The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

Please note * indicates that the photo used many front-page air rescues of plane crews He had blasted a Hun two-two-seater out is taken from the Sir George Hubert Wilkins who crashed in Alaska and Canada. The of the air, set fire to a group of wooden huts Papers, SPEC.PA.56.0006, Byrd Polar and club has a world-wide membership of 810. with incendiaries, and killed more than 100 Climate Research Center Archival Another Australian member is Mr. German infantry he had caught marching in Program, Ohio State University Charles Mountford, of St. Peters, South a solid column. Australia, who was leader of the 1948 He wanted some more of that sort of 1951 Arnhem Land Expedition. A distinguished excitement. 20 of the 810 rank as honorary members. Anti-aircraft guns kept potting at him as These include South Australian-born Sir he probed 10 miles inside enemy territory. 13 January 1951 Hubert Wilkins and noted South Australian He couldn’t find a target worth tackling. Prehistoric meat for a club dinner Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson. Disappointed, he turned for home. Then “Mail” New York Office The 17 holders include most of the great way down below, he sighted two German Sydney explorer John Hallstrom and hors names of modern exploring history — two-seaters pottering round. They were his d’oeuvres 25,000 years old were two of the Amundsen, Byrd, Peary, and Rasmussen. meat. attractions at the annual dinner of the Even the drinks with which club members Explorers Club in New York tonight. settled down after dinner were unusual. Hallstrom who is a club member, They were made with effervescent ice. It travelled to New York to show coloured came from the Juneau icecap, a motion pictures of his explorations in New mountainous glacial region tying round the Guinea’s Wahgi Valley, at the dinner. Alaskan capital town of Juneau. Hallstrom’s father Edward is not only a Glaciologist Maynard Miller, of the member of the club, but was last year given American Geographic Society sent 300 lb. the unique title of EBP because of his to New York. It was kept in the Hotel generosity. The initials stand for Explorers Roosevelt cold room for a week before the Best Friend. The hors d’oeuvres were bits dinner, when bits of this ice were put into of the prehistoric elephant-like animal the members’ whiskies. The room heat called the mastodon. Nature had not only melted the ice, produced not water, but a preserved the meat in her own deep freeze liquid like soda-water. The glacial ice, for at least 250,000 years, but the chefs at having been formed under intense the Hotel Roosevelt, where the dinner was pressures, is full of compressed air, which held, didn’t even have to cook it. Nature bubbles out when the ice melts. had already done that. Mastodons roaming the Arctic Aleutian Islands, which jut out from Alaska, often fell into cracks in the glaciers from which they could not escape. Exactly what happened next is a mystery to glaciologists, but the Aleutians are a volcanic chain, which must account for the fact that the mastodon meat, preserved in glacial ice, has also been cooked. Companies, which seek fold by forcing jets of water against the edges of Aleutian glaciers, have found several pieces of mastodon meat since the end of the war. MASTODON Hors d’oeuvres

Father Bernard Hubbard, of the Jesuit Mission, nicknamed “the Glacier Priest,” Mail (Adelaide, SA), Saturday 13 January because he works in Canada and Alaska, 1951, page 25. sent the chunk from Unimak Island, which https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5 became the Explorers’ Club hors d’oeuvres. 5856448 Down went the nose of his plane in a The meat was dark, had the consistency of screaming dive which built up to 220 m.p.h. seal blubber, and tasted vaguely of nuts. It 3 March 1951 — terrific speed in 1917. was handed round in the form of pieces on FAMOUS DISASTERS Every nerve was concentrated on judging the ends of toothpicks. One of the main EAGLE IN THE MIRE the moment when he would press the firing bar courses at the dinner was bison meat. The bison, a sullen, shaggy animal, which once of his machine-gun, and get his second kill. roamed North America in millions, was Suddenly there was a fearful clattering in nearly wiped out by hungry early settlers. his ears. Something slammed into his left Today, the meat which comes from foot like a trip hammer. Government protected herds in the Middle Though fresh to combat, he immediately West, is a delicacy, selling for twice the knew that a fighter was tight on his tail. price of best beef. The table decorations at With that thought he blacked out for 40 the dinner were the rarest in New York. seconds. They were Tundra moss and grasses which Low cloud obscured the German lines. Coming to, he found himself spinning to grow in Arctic areas too cold to support No Hun planes were round. The leader of the ground. Three planes were beating him trees. The Tundra moss was sent from the flight of eight planes from No. 19 up. Kodiak, in the Aleutians, by United States Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, fired a light Navy Captain George Kosco, who signal: “Go home — nothing doing.” commands the weather station there. Guests Obediently the pilots turned for home. at the dinner included the Australian The wild Australian kid in the patrol found Ambassador to Washington (Mr. Norman a big white cloud nearby, and nipped into it. Makin). He didn't want to go back to base. He At the dinner, the club awarded the wanted a fight. seventeenth of its Medals of Merit to A few days before he had made his first Angrily he tried to turn and fight back. United States Air Force Control Colonel flight over the enemy lines, and had turned But his left leg had gone and wouldn’t work Bernt Balchen, who was a pioneer in Arctic on a performance which had got him a the rudder bar. flying techniques, as well as a veteran of recommendation for an MC. 1

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

The Hun fighter had closed to 20 yards. Wyndham agent had been sending urgent Bullets were spraying his cockpit. Blood messages to Sydney telling the Southern had filled his left flying boot, and was Cross not to take off in any circumstances. running over the top. In the heart of Australia, the plane ran By good luck, the action had taken him into a terrific storm. For hour after hour the over his own lines. The German planes fell pilots flew blind. They cursed the back and the pilot limped to his aerodrome. Wyndham agent. His pals pulled him out of the cockpit and Dawn found them on the West Australian counted more than 180 bullet holes in the coast and heading out over a raging sea. plane. Dozens of bullets had missed his Where was Wyndham? head by inches. They flew north-west expecting to round In spite of his pain, Charlie Kingsford- Cape Londonderry and fly round it into Smith laughed. The air was his friend, his Wyndham. After two hours flying they true home. It would never kill him. realised they were hopelessly lost. But, thousands of flying hours away, 17 As Smithy was preparing to fly south- years away, death was waiting for him in east, correctly guessing that his target lay the skies somewhere out from Rangoon. that way, a number of European huts were After the war, he was just another flier sighted. looking for a job. For a while he did some Ulm scribbled on a piece of paper, commercial flying in Western Australia. “Please point direction of Wyndham,” and But the big time was calling him. He threw the message overboard. wanted “fame, wealth, and excitement,” and Natives rushed from the buildings and he reckoned he could pull it all out of the pointed south-west. It seemed an air. unreasonable direction, but the pilots With a fellow airman, Keith Anderson, he decided the locals should know best, and flew to Sydney and the pair teamed up with swung the plane that way. C. T. P. Ulm, another young flier with big ideas. [It was later discovered that the natives at Smith and Ulm were of the same kidney. Australian Government even contributed the Drysdale Mission had never found the They wanted the same things. “Let’s £5,000. note and imagined the airmen had been introduce ourselves to Australia,” they No one but the plane crew could seeking an emergency landing ground.] plotted. understand how mortal men had courage In June, 1927, Kingsford-Smith and Ulm enough to launch out over a mighty ocean Smithy piloted the plane back along the flew round Australia in 10 days 5 hours in a and gamble twice on finding tiny island coastline away from Wyndham. More huts patched-up Bristol which should have fallen landing grounds on which to rest and refuel. appeared below. Ulm wrote another note: out of the sky a dozen times. Such concern amused Smith. He knew “Please place white sheets pointing Australia sat up and took notice. his destiny was safe in the air. direction of Wyndham and mark in large “Let’s give them a bigger kick,” said Keith Anderson had missed the glory and figures number of miles.” Smith. “Let’s fly the Pacific from America the cash. He felt something was owing to Busy little figures down below arranged to Australia.” him for all the preparatory work he had an arrow and the figures “250.” The plane Of course, the idea was completely crazy. done, even though he had not made the did not have petrol enough for 250 miles. That was why Ulm liked it. Keith Anderson actual flight. agreed to join the team and in August, He sued and failed. Kingsford Smith then Grimly Smithy turned round and 1927, the three air devils arrived in made him a gift of £1,000. With this money followed the direction of the arrow for an America. Keith Anderson bought a Westlang hour, hoping that his traditional luck would Widgeon — a two-two-seater — which he hold. named Kookaburra. Wireless operator T. H. McWilliams kept Smith and Ulm formed Australian sending out a running commentary. His last National Airways. They needed planes and one ran, “About to land in bad country.” planned to go to England and buy them. That was the last Australia heard of her “We'll mix business with pleasure,” greatest airman for many long days. decided Smithy, “We’ll fly over.” First leg Smithy made a miraculous landing on a They wanted a plane. No one took them of the journey was to be a straight hop from mudflat near a tidal inlet, after being 28½ very seriously. But Sir Hubert Wilkins was Sydney to Wyndham (WA) — a non-stop hours in the air. willing to sell them a big, three-engine crossing of the continent from south-east to The machine was undamaged. The four Fokker with which he had been trying to fly north-west. crew members congratulated one another, over the North Pole. They bought it for An agent was sent to Wyndham to and went to the emergency rations locker. It £3,000. There was a catch. The plane didn't provide special weather advice. At noon, was empty! have any engines — and suitable ones were March 30, 1929, the Southern Cross took Their entire larder consisted of a few hard to get. Months went by. People in off on her 2,000-mile hop. Everything was sandwiches, a thermos of coffee, a small Australia kept cabling the men to stop being perfect. The Wyndham agent had reported silly and get a boat home. ideal flying weather. Keith Anderson suggested the plane An hour out from Sydney a simple should be called the Southern Cross, and accident occurred which was the first in a then said that as the flight looked as though chain which spelt disaster. bottle of brandy, a package of baby food it would never eventuate, he was off home. H. A. Litchfield, who had been employed being taken by special request to Smith and Ulm stayed on. They got their as navigator, leaned out a window to take a Wyndham, and a little bottle of glycerine. engines, enlisted two Americans as sight, bumped the stop button on a reel A quick reconnaissance revealed that the navigator and wireless operator, and then in which held the plane's copper wireless airmen were trapped. There was no way out May, 1928, performed probably the greatest aerial. The wire ran out and snapped off. of the mudflat by foot. feat in the history of aviation — a 7,389 The plane could send, but not receive. They decided to stay by the plane and mile trip over the Pacific in three mighty With tons of petrol aboard, Smithy knew he light signal fires. Their receiving set was hops. couldn't land without dumping most of it. working again, but they could not send Australia exploded with excitement. Cash Weather was good ahead. Fly on. because the generator would not work gifts totalling £20,000 poured in. The But the weather was not good ahead. It unless the plane was flying. had suddenly deteriorated, and the 2

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

They knew a search was on, but could In a desperate effort to survive they had Ambitious to start a regular trans-Tasman find nothing that would burn properly to broken the compass and swallowed the air service, Smithy could not get the Federal attract attention. alcohol. Government to cooperate with him. On April 4, their fourth full day at Coffee Then whispers ran round Australia. He conceived the idea that his cause Royal, as they named the spot in memory of They said that the affair at Coffee Royal would be helped if he broke the England- the long departed thermos of coffee and had been a stunt. Australia record established by Campbell flask of brandy, they began to starve. The Federal Government appointed a and Black in the centenary air race — just Each man's ration was down to a Committee of Inquiry, which cleared the over 70 hours. tablespoon of baby’s food, plus a couple of Southern Cross crew of such charges. In England, he said: “I don't feel fit for snail-like things they had found on But Smithy could never forget. He wrote: the job, but I’m going to see it through.” mangrove trees. On the sixth day, a search “I cannot forget how certain of my With Tom Pethybridge as co-pilot, he plane was sighted five miles away. countrymen turned from adulants to took off on October 20, 1935. The plane Three days later two planes passed close defaments almost overnight. Scurrilous reached Italy and had to return. by, but apparently the giant wing of the letters, unsigned, were written to me, my Smithy was very ill. He had a chill, and a Fokker was not easily visible. wife, and my mother. The public, which passage by ship to Australia had been By the twelfth day, Australia had had been 100 per cent. Smithy when we booked for him. panicked and hope was fading. The airplane took off for the flight now began tossing But his dignity was at stake. carrier HMAS Albatross had been ordered mud and rocking the pedestal upon which He flew from England on November 6. In out of Sydney Harbor round to the north- they had placed me.” 30½ hours he was at Allahabad, and almost west of Australia to aid in the search. Smithy was never really happy again. He halfway. The record was in his pocket. Many of Australia's best pilots were in seemed to take the criticism as a personal He passed Rangoon . . . and flew on into the air — hunting. challenge, and went out of his way to risk eternity. On April 10, Keith Anderson, in his his life in daring flying stunts. Mail (Adelaide, SA), Saturday 3 March Kookaburra, bought with Smith’s £1,000 In 1930, five airmen attempted to break 1951, page 4. gift, had flown out of Alice Springs with his Bert Hinkler's England-Australia record of https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5 mechanic Hitchcock, aiming for Wyndham 15½ days. Only Kingsford Smith 5853809 to join the search. succeeded. In a tiny 135 h.p. single-engine machine, Southern Cross Junior, he lowered it to just under 10 days. The Englishman, Charles Scott, promptly did the trip in 9 days 4 hours 11 minutes. Mollison capped that effort with 8 days 19 hours 25 minutes. Kingsford Smith Smithy and his men were horrified to accepted the challenge, and in 1931 took hear on April 13 that Anderson and the air. Hitchcock had also been lost. But a jinx seemed to be riding him. After They were mourning the news and forced landings, and near death from carbon thanking heaven that they at least had monoxide poisoning in the cockpit of his plenty of water, which poor Anderson plane, he was forced to abandon the flight wouldn't have — he had come down in the at Calcutta. desert — when a rescue plane piloted by An advertisement from the (Mail (Adelaide, SA), Saturday Captain Leslie Holden found them. 3 March 1951, page 4.). “Found, found, found,” Holden's wireless operator tapped out to the world. (Maryborough Chronicle (Qld), Wednesday Holden dropped a note: “Are you OK? Can you hear our wireless?” 21 March 1951, page 5.). The man on the ground scrawled in the UNDER ICE TO RUSSIA mud. “Yes. No. Hear Sydney.” Sir Hubert Wilkins said recently that Rations were dropped with a message, In that year his new company, Australian submarines travelling under the Arctic “Back tomorrow.” Petrol was flown in later National Airways, lost the Southern Cloud, Ocean could carry American troops within to the Southern Cross and on April 18 —18 when she disappeared with six passengers striking distance of Russian Industrial days after the emergency landing — she plus crew while flying from Sydney to centres. Australian born Sir Hubert is a took the air again. Melbourne in a storm. consultant to the United States Military Meantime, the attention of Australia had His health and nerves seemed to be Planning Commission. been switched to the missing Anderson and going, but Smithy was still game. He was Hitchcock. determined to get back that solo England- On the morning of April 23 a search Australia record. plane found the Kookaburra in a big patch On October 4, 1933, he took off from of desert scrub. A body clad in singlet and England. These extracts from his log book underpants lay under one wing. tell their own story: Three days later a land party got to the “Still getting those nervous attacks.” plane. The man under the wing was “Nasty feeling as if I were going to faint” Hitchcock. (Bagdad). “Can’t sleep for nerves.” About 200 yards away was Anderson. “Had very bad turn and came down to 200 feet.” “No food for 36 hours.” In spite of all this, he stuck to his job and created a new record of 7 days 4 hr. 44 min. He missed entering the Melbourne centenary air race because he could not get a suitable plane in time. He knew that A pencilled diary on the tail of the plane people were suggesting his nerve had gone. Maryborough Chronicle (Qld), Wednesday told the story. His reply was to fly over the Pacific from The plane had been forced down with Australia to America in a single-engine 21 March 1951, page 5. engine trouble. The two men, after fixing plane with Capt. P. G. Taylor at the end of https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 the fault, had tried to clear a runaway, but 1934. That flight halted criticism. 48960599 lack of water had quickly weakened them. 3

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13 April 1951 Much controversy recently resulted in Professor Elkin has suggested that the R.A.A.F. IS SHIELD AND SPEAR England over the BBC broadcasts of the aborigines’ smoke signals are made to “Never before has the Commonwealth thought-reading act of Australian Sydney indicate that a telepathic message is to be been so well served in peacetime by its Air Piddington and his wife Lesley, who are sent. Force.” This was stated by the Minister for now on an Australian tour. Scientists have carefully sifted the Air (Mr. T. W. White) in a special article he The Piddingtons’ have performed some available evidence for thought-reading and wrote for the April issue of the aviation remarkable, feats of apparent thought- clairvoyance and have been conducting magazine “Aircraft.” reception over distances, but they have not experiments for years to establish the This issue has been devoted to the claimed that their act is scientific telepathy. existence of what has been called “man’s R.A.A.F.’s 30th anniversary, which Whether their act is real telepathy or an sixth sense.” occurred on March 31. extremely clever code (as contended by Professor A. C. Hardy, of Oxford “In the 37 years since my old friends, some critics) is a professional secret, but University, declared in 1949, that telepathy Petre and Harrison, landed at (Melbourne to there is no doubt that their performances was an established fact. begin the development of Australian have aroused a great popular interest in military aviation, progress has been simply telepathy. fantastic. It may be difficult for the younger generation to realise that 37 years ago we were flying box kites. There were no fighters or bombers. “True, our fellow Australian, Sir Hubert Wilkins had reported the astonishing news that bombs had been dropped on towns by aircraft in the Balkan war of 1912-13. But nobody could foresee the miraculous growth of aviation, through which the landing speeds of modern aircraft are higher than the all-out speed of 1914 aircraft. “We are apt today to take this miracle for granted. Yet, when the Royal Australian Air Force was created as a separate service in 1921 it flew types which would be objects of sheer ridicule today unless seen in a museum. “Because of this really amazing progress Mrs. Piddington (foreground) “receiving” thoughts while in aviation, the air arm of the fighting in a plane over London. forces has become a vital factor in the defence of this country. I would not care to While the man in the street argues about say that the Air Force is the arm which wins it, scientists in Europe, England and wars, for wars are won only by integrated America are quietly investigating the Sidney Piddington and his wife (blindfolded) at the and balanced forces. grounds for belief in telepathy (thought- microphone in a studio. “Yet nobody can deny today that the transference), clairvoyance (perceiving R.A.A.F. is a shield against the possible use objects not present to the senses) and “Telepathy is something new which has of long-range bombers to attack our cities precognition (ability to foretell events.) appeared over the horizon and which many and shipping. It is also the spear which we There is no lack of evidence, gathered of us don’t like to look at,” he said. would throw against an enemy who over many years, of instances of people But not all scientists are prepared to go so challenges our friends — as it is today in receiving thoughts over great distances or far as Professor Hardy until facts have been Korea and Malaya. having prior knowledge of events, such as assembled in support of the case for “The R.A.A.F. is, therefore, a service the death of a relative. telepathy. which has many great attractions for the The late Sir Harry Lauder, Scottish One of the sceptics, mathematics youth of Australia.” said Mr. White. comedian/ claimed that he always knew Professor S. G. Soal, of London University, Maryborough Chronicle (Qld), Friday 13 what was happening to his brother in made an investigation in 1934 of the April 1951, page 2. Newcastle, NSW. vaudeville telepathy act of Frederick Marion. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 A famous example of precognition was Dr. Soal, who had the willing 48959521 Emanuel Swedenborg’s letter to John collaboration of Marion in his experiments, Wesley in which he correctly forecast the reports that he found that Marion sincerely 14 April 1951 date of his own death! Then there were the amazing experiments believed he found small objects hidden by Tests seem to indicate that one in thought-transference made in 1937 by the audience by reading their thoughts. in five persons is a telepathic subject. explorer Sir Hubert Wilkins, who was in the However, Dr. Soal, from his By MILTON STUART Arctic, and his friend Harold Sherman, who observations, reached the conclusion that Do human beings possess a sort of mental was in New York, 3000 miles away. Marion found the articles by "muscle radio set which enables them to transmit Wilkins was the agent (thought- reading," that is, by detecting small clues and receive thoughts without the aid of the transmitter) and Sherman the percipient given unwittingly by members of the live recognised senses? (receiver). At a set time each day, Wilkins audience. A few decades ago, most people would would commit his thoughts to writing and Even if — as the doctor says — it wasn’t have ridiculed this idea, for, despite the Sherman would try to receive them. telepathy, it was still a remarkably clever popularity of thought-reading shows on the When the two men compared notes later, act. stage, they didn’t really believe such a thing it was found that Sherman had made a Foremost among scientists who are was possible. remarkable number of correct “hits.” studying telepathy and allied phenomena is It was generally accepted that the stage Primitive people have long known the psychology Professor J. B. Rhine, who has thought-readers accomplished their feats by possibilities of telepathy. Sydney established a special department of means of clever and intricate codes in University Professor of Anthropology Dr. parapsychology at Duke University, which key words told the blindfolded A. P. Elkin, said some time ago: “I have Durham, North Carolina, USA. thought-reader what his assistant was being found many experiences of mental Professor Rhine’s experiments have been told or shown by the audience. telepathy among the natives of the Northern mainly into what he, calls ESP (extra- Territory.” sensory perception). 4

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Some of the first tests in ESP were made in In some of the ESP tests thoughts have The noted Polar explorer Lincoln Europe in 1920 by Professor Brueckmans, been successfully transferred 1000 miles. Ellsworth died of a sudden heart attack whose percipient was a young Dutchman, Professor Rhine himself says that success yesterday at the age of 71. van Dam, of Groningen. in telepathy is due to intense concentration, Ellsworth, the son of a wealthy pioneer of “plus a conviction of success.” the Middle West, began life as an axeman He contends that when telepathy becomes on the first survey of the Canadian Pacific perfect there can be no such thing as Railway. He inherited his father’s fortune, military secrets because all thoughts will be owning a villa in Italy and a castle in readable. Tests seem to indicate that one in Switzerland. But he hated cities and led a five persons is a telepathic subject and it life of adventure, a great part of it in the appears that people regarded as “simple” Polar Regions. make excellent percipients. His first essay was a flight across the One of the most extraordinary North Pole with Amundsen in 1926. demonstrations of thought-reading was In 1931 he combined forces with the SA given in 1947 by a British Army gunner explorer Sir Hubert Wilkins, in a daring Maurice Fogel, then 24. scheme for a journey under the North Pole Fogel, solidly built and with dark, in the US Navy submarine Nautilus, but the piercing eyes, told a bunch of sceptical project was abandoned after the journey newspapermen their names before they began. were introduced to him. Then he named Ellsworth was defeated three times by ice friends they were thinking about. and blizzards before succeeding in crossing He asked someone to think of the name the Antarctic by air. of a London telephone subscriber and At the end of 1935, with Hollick-Kenyon, immediately supplied the number. a young Englishman, as his pilot, he flew Mrs. Piddington goes into a diving: bell for a thought – When the telephone rang during the 2,000 miles from Dundee Island to Little reading act. interview, Fogel correctly forecast the name America. of the caller. Their plane ran out of petrol before the Van Dam’s “hits” in thought-reading What happens in a scientific thought- goal was reached and the last stage of the were far above the laws of chance, and his reading experiment? Here’s a description of journey had to be accomplished on foot. score improved when he was given a European test mentioned by Rudolph The Discovery II was chartered by the bromide. What was more surprising was Tischner in his book Telepathy and Australian Government, and sent to the Bay there was a further improvement when he Clairvoyance. of Whales, picked up the two men before was given a little alcohol. The agent (Dr. Wasielewski) picks up a their own ship, the Wyatt Earp, had time to But Brueckmans found, just as Professor pair of scissors and concentrates his reach them. Rhine discovered later, that the telepathic thoughts on them. The flight won worldwide recognition faculty tires and the best runs are usually After two minutes, the percipient (a and the US Congress voted Ellsworth a obtained early. woman), who is separated from the doctor special gold medal for claiming, on behalf In his ESP experiments, Rhine uses a by an opaque screen and has her back to it, of the US, about 350.000 square miles of deck of 25 cards, known as the Zener pack, says: land in Antarctica. designed by Rhine’s colleague, Dr. Karl “It is round and shining—now it is Three years later Ellsworth claimed from Zener. becoming like a ring.” the air an additional 80.000 square miles of Five symbols are used on the 25 cards, so Two minutes later she adds: “It is made territory for the US, in the Endbery that in each pack there are five cards with a of metal-it shines like metal or glass — quadrant of the Antarctic continent. The cross (or plus) sign, five with a star, five round and yet long — as if it were a pair of Wyatt Earp, the only ship used by the with a square (sometimes called a scissors — there are two rings at the end explorer on his arctic explorations, was a rectangle), five with a circle and five with and it is long.” Norwegian herring-boat bought for wavy (or zigzag) lines. After concentrating for another couple of Ellsworth by Sir Hubert Wilkins. For some The cards are shuffled mechanically then minutes, the woman says: “It must be a pair years she was a Sea Scout training ship at dealt face down to the agent (thought- of scissors — yes, I’m sure it is a pair of Port Adelaide and last went to Antarctica in transmitter). The agent turns up the top card scissors.” 1948, seeking a base for (Advertiser (SA), and concentrates his thoughts on the World’s News (Sydney, NSW), Saturday 14 Tuesday 29 May 1951, page 3. symbol. April 1951, page 3. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4 The percipient (thought-receiver) has to https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 5712559 identify the symbol. The calculated laws of 39910428 chance would give him five correct guesses in a run through the 25 cards. In the early ESP experiments by Rhine the percipient was seated in the same room as the agent, with his back to the agent and with a screen between them. Sceptics said that the symbols could be conveyed to the percipient by such code sounds as the scrape of a chair or a cough. To overcome this objection, a noisy electric fan was installed in the room. But the scores remained more or less the same. To test the effect of distance on the tests, the percipient was removed to another room, then outside the university, later to another city. But as the distance increased the scores seemed to improve. Lincoln Ellsworth In the 1932 ESP tests, a divinity student at Duke University, Hubert Pearce, called 29 May 1951 all 25 cards correctly! Lincoln Ellsworth Dead The Wyatt Earp during the Ellsworth Antarctic Flight A psychology student, Adam Linzmayer, Australian Associated Press Expeditions. *OSU Polar Archives [wilkins33_8_3]. called 15 cards in a row. NEW YORK. May 28. 5

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Robert Helpmann, of Sadlers Wells. Sister Kenny, of polio fame the only non- American to hold the freedom of New York City. Great medical men and scientists — like Oliphant, of nuclear fission fame, and Florey, discoverer of penicillin. Sir Hubert Wilkins, and host of native born explorers ranging from Baron Forrest of Bunbury, to Kingsford-Smith. Two of the leading figures of U.N., Dr. H. V. Evatt and Lori Bruce of Melbourne. Harry Hawker, Ross and Keith Smith, Bert Hinkler. Actors and actresses galore including Oscar Asche, Judith Anderson, to name but two. One of the most acclaimed tropical administrators of all time, Sir Hubert Murray. The top-liners of B.B.C comedy. The genius of wheat hybridisation, Farrow. The inventors of the armour-piercing bullet, the tank, and sundry other minor war- winning gadgets. Some soldiers - Sir John Monash, knighted on the field by King George V.; Sir Thomas We enjoy our leisure, of course — why shouldn’t we? Blamey, that ran phenomenon, a “colonial” Field Marshal; Jacka’s Mob. An advertisement for the ‘Pop-Up Toaster’ from the Idle people? (Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), Tuesday 29 May 1951, page 3.) Have you ever followed an Australian farmer through his routine? Or an outback 31 May 1951 doctor? An inland missionary? A freelance AN AUSTRALIAN ANSWERS BACK journalist or a struggling artist? Even a I say this is a great people! striking coalminer cultivating his garden The native ire of one of Australia’s best and rabbiting to fill out the strike pay? A known writers has been aroused by recent teacher catching up on his exam papers, a criticism of his country by complaining nurse at a public hospital, a deck-hand? A migrants. This is what he has to say about housewife, with no daughters and a lot of their allegations. . . . hungry sons? At the risk of incurring the old charges on insularity and inferiority, I’d like to address I could make out a case for the man who works a forty hour week to gain more a few remarks to those of your readers who may have been impressed by the plaint that leisure. In this land where there’s nothing to Are our Australian put suits idle . . . or dull? Australia, “This Too Easy-Going Land,” is do but I refrain. the dullest country in the world, the most Third-Rate goods? All of which seems to suggest that one inefficient in the British Commonwealth, Our American Allies were happy to thing is efficient here — education. full of idle people and third rate goods. acclaim the Australian .303, “the Owen That’s enough for now. Remember, we are Gun, the 25-pounders that "won the Huon,” only eight million, and we haven't been First of all, I wonder how much of Australian boots, and sundry other items of here so long. Australia Eric Mitchell has seen, how many war equipment. O Footnote to all this: other members of the British Common- Our wool and wheat you can judge by the Eric seems chiefly perturbed because he wealth, how many other countries of the prices they fetch. can’t sit down to beer in Australia after 6 world. Our beer, confectionery, canned goods p.m. Dull? Has he ever been out after and many other products admittedly equal That’s true enough of more cultured crocodile or buffalo up north, surfed on the World’s best. Melbourne, when people are home-loving Sydney or Queensland beaches, fished for Once again, one names but a few and apart from that, like to participate in the big fellows off the South Coast of New instances - and we haven’t been in the such cultural activities, when they do go out South Wales, sailed on Sydney Harbor or manufacturing business in a big way for at ballet, music and repertory theatre, but let shipped in a ketch across Bass Strait, flown long. him just slip across to the “Apple Isle” of the rainbow route to Darwin, or the craggy The most serious charge, however, is that the West, or up to Queensland and he can way to Queensland, or even down into the we are the most inefficient country in the sup his ale at his leisure, and meet some placid, pretty, peaceful Derwent Valley, World. very nice people, too. tried the skiing at Kosciusko, played Are we? Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), Thursday 31 May Australian Rules football, watched an 1951, page 2. This country has produced: English Eleven take a pasting, seen a https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 England’s, perhaps the world’s greatest Melbourne Cup? 3065214 classical O.M. Scholar, Sir Gilbert Murray Or maybe Eric (who “hath ever homely The greatest soprano of her day. wit”) is a home-keeping youth. He might, 10 December 1951 as he would do in London, invest in a few You’ve had too much of Melba? Well, Troops can't sink in this suit good books — or join a library — chop up WASHINGTON. — a few kitchen chairs to build a fire and there’s been an Australian at the Metropolitan Opera, New York, ever sing Sir Hubert Wilkins, Australia’s famous settle down for the night. Arctic explorer, was praised a revolutionary This weather, it's better than night clubs, there’s been a Metropolitan Opera, and you have Marjorie Lawrence, Eileen Joyce, and uniform developed by the United States pubs (however bright), or even symphony Army to make soldiers unsinkable. concerts . . . many others. 6

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

He sees in Antarctica a land of inestimable value in time of war, whose waters are rich in sea food. Mr. Law, accompanied the Norwegian - British-Swedish expedition to Queen Maud Land. He has been greatly interested in the southern continent since he graduated in physics at the University of Melbourne in the early 30’s. He sums up Antarctica’s future this way:— Photo – Alaska, 1952. *OSU Polar Archives SEA FOOD. — Plankton, the highly [wilkins38_6_22]. nutritive sea food which helped to feed the Kon-Tiki crew during their expedition in discovered, minerals to be found, and much the Pacific, abounds in Antarctic waters. data to be obtained for science. Biologists have yet to determine whether Australia’s sector extends eastwards from o this could be processed and tinned in point south of Madagascar to another south sufficient quantity to relieve the world food of Macquarie Island and inland to the South shortage. Pole with the exception of Adelie Land, a narrow strip of French territory. This white A REFRIGERATOR. — Surplus food continent, with its roaring gales and sometimes thrown away in times of glut blinding snow storms, may be one of the could be transported to Antarctica and world’s wealthiest areas. stored until required. Unlike the northern Polar Region with its barren stretches of frozen water, most of MINERAL RESOURCES. — Uranium Antarctica is an ice-covered plateau 10,000 and other important minerals might be An advertisement from the (Advocate (Burnie, Tas.), Monday 10 December 1951, page 2.). feet above sea level. available in the continent. Using atomic Coal has been discovered there. This is energy to melt the ice, these minerals could, It will also keep them dry and warm even proof that at one time there must have been if discovered, be worked commercially. after the most thorough drenchings. vegetation and, possibly, life. Scientists are The Army last night announced optimistic it might even be rich in minerals. METEOROLOGY. — Weather reports successful tests of the suit, a zippered jacket The Australian National Antarctic from. Heard and Macquarie islands are now and baggy trousers of rubber like plastic Research Expedition was planned in 1947 assisting Australian forecasters. A station in made buoyant by millions of microscopic to set up three, research stations, two on the Antarctica, providing the third point in a air cells. Empire outposts at Heard and Macquarie huge triangle, would ensure mere accurate It is intended for cold and wet climates islands, and the third on the Antarctic daily forecasts. Seasonal forecasts might and for terrain where troops may have to continent. prove possible as a result of these wade in rivers, streams and swamps. From the two island stations, now in the observations. After witnessing tests in the Potomac fifth year of operation, extensive River yesterday Sir Hubert said the uniform meteorological, biological and physical EXPLORATION. — There is work for had great possibilities. “Never before had research has been conducted. years to come in mapping accurately the the flotation principle been built into a Both Islands send weather reports to coastline and in exploring the inland. garment for winter combat”, he added. Australia every six hours. Biologists’ study Sir Hubert, an adviser to the Army, of the elephant seal may one day lead to the Australia Ready watched a group of soldiers leap into the marketing of its oil, and the physicists’ Australia is in an ideal position to carry river carrying 26lb. packs. They bobbed on observations into cosmic rays, radio- out this work today. Five years’ expedition the surface like corks and had no difficulty physics and geomagnetism and seismology work at Heard and Macquarie islands has in manoeuvring. are proving valuable to scientists stimulated a group of enthusiastic, highly One man demonstrated the extreme everywhere. trained men who are longing for the chance buoyancy by opening a tin of rations while Lack of a suitable ship, however, has so to go further south. floating on his back in the chilly water. far prevented a post-war Australian The expedition has an efficient and Others lit cigarettes. expedition to the Antarctic continent. experienced, administrative organisation, The men spent 20 minutes in the 45- A 2400-ton expedition ship has been which can maintain the men in the field and degree water and then had their body designed, and it is hoped that construction provide them with all the scientific temperatures recorded immediately. They will commence this year. equipment needed to tackle the multiplicity were as high as 67.2 degrees. Officials said When built, this ship will take a party of of problems yet unsolved. the temperatures could be speeded back to explorers through the “roaring forties” to Any Antarctic station must be manned normal by exercise. their new base. continuously for a number of years if it Advocate (Burnie, Tas.), Monday 10 Already, huskies are being bred at Heard hopes to make a major contribution to December 1951, page 2. Island for the expedition. scientific research. The Australian Two Auster aircraft, which can land expedition intends to maintain the base in https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9 either on sea or pack ice, have been definitely, relieving the parties every year. 1771891 purchased by the Australian Government as

reconnaissance aircraft. [The Antarctic Division, of the Department 12 January 1952 Light, easily manoeuvrable, these aircraft of External Affairs is planning to send a Probing Antarctica have a 150-mile range. They greatly scientific and exploration party to the New Mission to the Last assisted the Norwegian-British-Swedish Antarctic. This expedition will be more Great Continent expedition in reaching the Norwegian thorough than anything yet previously By A Staff Correspondent sector of the continent in 1950. attempted in the great white South. Antarctica is a strange, mysterious Members of the party will follow closely on continent. Large portions of its shore, Research Fields the footsteps of such great Australian clustered with pack-ice, have not yet been Like most of his colleagues in the Antarctic explorers as Sir Douglas Mawson, accurately mapped. Inland little is known. scientific world, the expedition leader (Mr. Captain J. K. Davis, Johh Rymill and Sir There are mountain ranges still to be P. G. Law) looks to the future. Hubert Wilkins.]

7

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

Past expeditions have not been According to the experts, the guided of the U.S. Air Force, arid officials from the permanent, and often an old or chartered missile which was exploded recently over three Scandinavian countries. ship has proved inadequate. Korea with devastating effect, has been The projected route is Los Angeles to If a permanent group of stations is co be hopelessly outmoded by the new weapons Edmonton (Alberta), thence across Canada established, a specially designed vessel will now being turned out. over the Arctic Circle to Thule, a giant new have to be built for the dangerous tasks U.S. air base in north-west Greenland. ahead. [The Korean missile, a converted Hellcat After refuelling at Thule the DC-6B will That is why the ship de signs now on the bomber, loaded with explosive, was guided fly to Bodo, a new airfield in Norway, 50 drawing board are so important; that is why to the target from a “mother” plane.] miles above, the Arctic Circle, then on to the men of the Antarctic Division of the Stockholm, Oslo, and Copenhagen. Department of External Affairs are awaiting Mr. John F. Floberg, writing in Colliers, Douglas airliners are pressurised and this new ship to set out on yet another great said the contract had been let for heated for 25,000 feet, and passengers will adventure to the south. construction of the nuclear plant to power soar above the frozen Arctic wastes in shirt- the atomic aircraft-carrier. sleeve comfort. Age (Melbourne, Vic.), Saturday 12 January He forecast that it would have an 1952, page 2. unlimited cruising range at full speed, would be 1000 feet long, and carry 120 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 powerful planes, which could be launched 04972764 four at a time. Such subs could penetrate under the ice to within 900 miles of the major “Eurasian targets,” use a heat device to melt through the ice, and then launch guided missiles. Truth (Sydney, NSW), Sunday 28 September 1952, page 3. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 68009177

28 September 1952 Thule, the American-Danish air base, 900 miles from the ATOM SUB WAR NEXT North Pole, makes the Arctic the air crossroads of the NEW YORK, Sat. — future-in, peace and in war. Explorer Sir Hubert Wilkins said yesterday that the development of atomic The new route via Thule will reduce flying time between Stockholm and Seattle This great continent of Antarctica opens up extensive submarines and guided missiles has opened fields to the scientist for research the way to the use of Arctic Ocean ice- to 18 hours from the present 28 or more fields as a key battleground in the event of a hours via New York. 28 September 1952 third world war. A heating apparatus has Later, Scandinavian Airlines System will SUPERSONIC BOMBS FOR been developed by which subs could melt send flights from Norway to Tokio, using AMERICA. the ice to permit the firing of missiles. All Thule and Fairbanks (Alaska) as refuelling points. STARTLING NEW ATOMIC that is awaited now is an atomic sub Other international air carriers will soon MISSILES. capable of operating for long periods beneath the ice. Such a craft is now under follow the lead of Scandinavian Airlines WASHINGTON, Saturday. (B.U.P.). — construction. System over Arctic wastes. In a sensational announcement yesterday, Truth (Brisbane, Qld), Sunday 28 A spokesman for Transocean Airlines, U.S. naval authorities revealed that two September 1952, page 3. largest American cargo carriers, declared: guided missiles, capable of carrying atomic “We regard the Arctic Ocean as the https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 bomb warheads, were in production in Mediterranean Sea of future commercial 01352700 America. flying.”

They said also that other guided missiles British Overseas Airways Corporation in production were capable of almost 11 November 1952 will begin exploratory flights from Europe supersonic speed and could fly Giant U.S. Arctic base opens new age of across the Arctic Ocean to North America independently of a “mother” plane. travel early next year. Two other startling aspects of atomic North Pole all set to be air crossroads “This route is a natural one for us because development stressed yesterday were:— NEW YORK, Mon. of the position of Canada and Britain,” said Assistant Secretary of the Naval Air Sir Hubert Wilkins, Australian trans- a B.O.A.C. official. Force (Mr. John F. Floberg) forecast that Polar aviator, predicted in 1928 that the This sudden burst of aerial activity across the proposed U.S. atomic aircraft - carrier Arctic; one day would become a regular the top of the globe was made possible by would revolutionise the Navy in the same crossroads f or airship navigation.” the dramatic revelation of the existence of way as did the change from sail to steam. Now, nearly a quarter-century after his the giant new air base of Thule, a snowy, Famous explorer Sir Hubert Wilkins said epic pioneer flight; from Alaska to plateau in north-west: Greenland, carved the development of guided missiles and Spitsbergen; Sir Hubert’s prophecy is out of Arctic atomic submarines had opened the way to coming true. From George McGann wastes in 18 use the Arctic Ocean and airfields as a key Next Saturday Scandinavian Airlines months’ secret activity by the United States battleground in the event of a third world System will begin a Polar trail-blazing Air Force. Thule, named for the classical war. flight from Los Angeles. It hopes to begin Ultima Thule or “farthest possible limit.” Deadly ‘Sparrow’ regular; passenger flights from Europe to was conceived primarily as an advance One of the new guided, missiles is the United States across the North Pole strategic air base placing American jet- known as the “Sparrow” and can seek out before the end of this year. bombers within, striking distance of the and destroy an enemy three miles distant. Scandinavian Airlines System, is a industrial heart of the Soviet Union. Another is the “Terrier,” about which few commercial airline operated jointly by the Located inside the Arctic Circle, 900 details are known. Swedish. Norwegian and Danish miles from the North Pole, Thule air base is The United States also has a version of Governments. only 2,752 miles from Moscow, 3199 miles the German buzz bomb known as ‘The Aboard the first Douglas DC-6B to be from Omsk, and 4,115 miles from Loon’. This can be launched from the decks used for the 6,290 miles preliminary trip Vladivostok. of surfacing submarines and can reach a from Los Angeles to Copenhagen will be Apart from its military importance, Thule speed of 420 m.p.h. Prince Axel of Denmark, Colonel Balchen, is of the utmost value to commercial 8

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day aviation because of its location across the Most of the buildings at Thule had to be Sir Douglas Mawson and Admiral Sir shortest air routes from Europe to the west erected on stilts to insulate them from the William Byrd also used the Wyatt Earp on coast of North America, Alaska, and to permafrost, then, anchored with concrete Antarctic expeditions. Tokio and other parts of the Orient. weights to prevent Arctic blasts from Use of Thule as a refuelling stop will lop blowing them across the frozen tundra. 1,600 miles off flights from London to A pad of gravel several feet thick was Tokio, and bring California 1600 miles placed over the permafrost to support closer to Copenhagen. hangars and other large structures. Since “Thule has become the centre of the gravel does not hold water it does not civilised world in today’s air age,” Colonel freeze, and hence provides adequate Bernt Balchen, veteran Arctic flier and the insulation from the permafrost. man behind the U.S. Air Force’s decision to Barracks and other small buildings at build the Thule air base, asserted. “Within Thule, as well as the base’s huge hangars ten years international airliners will be were constructed on the refrigerator- going in and out of Thule in all directions.” building principle used here to keep the N.A.T.O. countries will be permitted use cold out rather than in. of Thule air base for commercial as well as Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW), Tuesday military purposes. American and Danish 11 November 1952, page 8. flags fly together over the 10,000-feet https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 airstrip and 480 acres of snug barracks and 48850569 hangars oh the shore of North Star Bay. Greenland is Danish territory. 3 February 1953 THE U.S. and Denmark undertook the POLAR EXPLORATION SHIP IN On the bow can be seen the iron sheathing for breaking construction of the Thule base on a mutual- her way through ice packs. Special 5in. planks are used in HOBART defence basis. her construction, and are fastened with wooden trunnels.

American taxpayers are paying the cost, of the project, estimated at 263,000,000 dollars (£A.117,000,000), and American workmen built the base using materials laboriously and expensively transported by air and ship from the United States. Apart, from its strategic geographical position, Thule has other virtues — flat terrain and comparatively mild weather. It has only 15 inches of snow a year, a summertime temperature of 50 degrees, and a wintertime average of 25 degrees below zero. By Arctic standards it is practically a garden spot. American Air Force authorities believe that the Soviet Union has established a comparable Polar base about 1500 miles Mr. A. Grining, a member of the crew, holds an old name board [found under the captain's bunk) above the present from Thule, in the Franz Josef Land group name on one of the lifeboats. of islands, north of Archangel. When the herculean task of erecting a Mercury (Hobart, Tas.), Tuesday 3 major base was begun, Thule was a joint February 1953, page 10. U.S. Danish weather station consisting of https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 18 observers, eight small buildings, and a Though not much to look at, a great little 7139071 modest air strip. ship lies at Ocean Pier, Hobart. She is the

In March, 1951, an airborne task force former Wyatt Earp, once owned by the 25 February 1953 descended upon the airstrip, carrying, American millionaire explorer Mr. Lincoln among other items, a 29,000lb. shovel, the Ellsworth, and veteran of many Antarctic Famous Polar ShipBack — With heaviest piece of equipment ever airlifted. expeditions. Potatoes This initial force of 600 men prepared; The Wyatt Earp, pictured on the left, was The Wyart Earp, which made many the way for the major invasion of 7500 originally the Norwegian herring boat exploratory voyages to the Antarctic, is workers which sailed quietly from Norfolk, Fanefjord, of 400 tons, built to withstand back in Sydney Harbour-renamed the Virginia, in June, 1951, without the men the Arctic ice pack. Wongala, and carrying potatoes! knowing where they were going. Since She was given her present name of The ship made its first Antarctic voyage North Sea Bay is open to shipping only 70 Wongala by the Navy, which took her over m 1933 in an expedition led by Sir Hubert days of the year, the vast bulk of machinery during the war to carry explosives. Efforts Wilkins and Lincoln Ellsworth. and materials had to be flown to Thule. to have her rechristened Wyatt Earp have After three other expeditions under the Then, men worked, 10 hours a day, seven failed because there is another American same leadership, the ship was bought by the days a week, under cruel conditions, and ship of that name. Commonwealth Government in 1938 for performed miracles of production in spite of She now is owned by the Argo Shipping £4,400. the adversities of nature. Company, of St. Helens, and is used to The Government used the vessel on While ice, fog, cold and dark made the carry wheat, explosives, and general cargo several voyages, and, when the war broke building of Thule a monumental task, a round the Australian coast. out, it was fitted as an ammunition supply unique obstacle to construction on Lincoln Ellsworth was accompanied by ship and handed over to the Navy. Greenland was the permafrost. Sir Hubert Wilkins on expeditions to the It was acquired by its present owners, the This is the permanently frozen ground, Antarctic in the Wyatt Earp between 1934 Arga Shipping Company of St. Helens, congealed to rocklike hardness to a depth of and 1939, when he charted large areas of Tasmania, 12 months ago, and has been 6,000 feet by aeons of primeval cold. Antarctica. used to carry explosives from Melbourne to If a building is erected directly, upon On top of the hatch was secured the Western Australia. permafrost the structure’s warmth gradually monoplane Polar Star, which Ellsworth thaws the permafrost and the foundations used for his attempted trans-Antarctic sink. flights. 9

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

Of 400 tons and 150 feet long, the vessel VALUE OF REGION was originally built in Norway for the “Meteorologically, the region is of great herring fleet. value,” the Minister stated, “for weather Its timbers are five inches thick to forecasts in Australia's southern States can withstand pack-ice. be improved by the collection of data from It is still rigged for sail, and, when the wind there. is favourable, it makes three to four knots “In such a vast area there must be great under sail. With its diesel engines it can mineral wealth. In fact, huge deposits of make 8 knots. coal have already been found, and many The Wongala carries a crew of 10. It will valuable and useful minerals are known to be slipped in Sydney and will then go to exist. The possibility of finding uranium in Newcastle to pick up a cargo of iron and this region must be borne in mind because pressed wallboard for Tasmania. of the geological similarity between parts of The Wyart Earp. *OSU Polar Archives [wilkins33_9_24]. Sydney Morning Herald (NSW), the territory and those parts of southern Wednesday 25 February 1953, page 1. Australia where uranium has been found. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 27 March 1953 “In the fixture it is possible that aircraft, 8358772 AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTICA flying between South America or South Africa and Australia will take the short (From our Canberra Representative) route over the Antarctic continent. The A new Australian expedition to the Antarctic is of the greatest interest to Antarctic will leave Melbourne in scientists, and specialists in many fields of December next to establish a scientific research are anxious to receive results from research station. The station will probably this desolate and uninhabited region. be set up in that part of the Australian “Great food resources in the form of Antarctic Territory south-west of Western whales, fish, seals birds and plankton are Australia, but the exact location has not yet waiting exploitation in the prolific seas been determined. Negotiations are at which surround Antartica and the world present being conducted for the charter of a may soon be forced to turn to this source of suitable ship capable of pushing through the supply, as a consequence of the continual pack-ice. worsening of the food position.” In making the announcement in the Since the establishment of the weather House of Representatives the Minister for stations at Beard and Macquarie islands. Mr External Affairs (Mr Casey) said it was of Casey added meteorological and vital importance, for strategic reasons, that geophysical data of permanent value were control of the Australian Antarctic sector becoming available whilst work was also should not be lost to us. “No one can being done in the fields of biology and predict what importance it may assume in cosmic rays. There remained, however, a the next 50 years,” he said. paramount need for information from the The Antarctic continent, which, at its Antarctic continent itself. nearest point, is only 1500 miles south of Australia has demonstrated its interest in Australia, is about equal in area to Australia the region during the post-war period by and the United States of America A cartoon from the (Newcastle Sun (NSW), Monday 2 sending official observers with French March 1953, page 9.). combined. The Australian sector of it expeditions to Adelle Land and with the covers 2,472,000 square miles, which is Norwegian British-Swedish expedition to 2 March 1953 almost as large as Australia itself. Queen Maud Land. Between them all a fine Ex-Antarctic Ship in Port. British sovereignly vested in Australia by spirit of cooperation has prevailed. A former Antarctic exploration ship the Antarctic Territory Acceptance Act of During the first year of the new arrived in Newcastle at the weekend 1933 was based on a long list of discoveries Australian expedition only a small working bearing another name and operating on the and exploration work, dating from the first party will land to erect living quarters, etc., Australian coastal trade. discovery of land, in this sector by and make a preliminary survey of the It was the 400-ton Wongala, once the John Biscoe in 1831 to the charting of large surrounding country. Most of the men who Wyatt Earp. It made its first Antarctic sections of the Antarctic coastline by the will make up this party have ?? ??ed on voyage in 1933 in an expedition led by Sir British, Australian and New Zealand either Heard or Macquarie island. In the Hubert Wilkins. It was bought by the Antarctic Expedition (B.A.N.Z.A) under Sir second year the station will be operating at Commonwealth Government for £4400 in Douglas Mawson in 1939-31. full strength with specialised scientific 1938 and when war broke out it was fitted A major contribution to the knowledge of equipment. as a naval ammunition supply ship. A year this sector was made by Sir Douglas Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld), ago it was bought by a St. Helens Mawson’s previous expedition in 1911-13, (Tasmania) shipping company and has been which establish two bases, One at Friday 27 March 1953, page 4. on the Melbourne Western Australia Commonwealth Bay and the other on the https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5 explosives run. Shackleton Ice Shelf. 7251169 The tiny craft was built in Norway Many Australian explorers have been 26 May 1953 originally as a herring trawler. For this prominently connected with Antarctic reason it has timbers five inches thick to exploration, including Louis Bernacchi, Sir Australia Will Establish Base On withstand pack-ice. Edgeworth David, Sir Hubert Wilkins and Antarctic Mainland It has proved a curiosity to many people John Rymill. By R. G. Casey, Minister For External at its Lee Wharf berth, as it is still rigged As a matter of historical interest, Mr Affairs for sail although these are used only to Casey mentioned that Captain Cook, in a Australia normally looks north or east or augment the diesel engines. Wongala has remarkable voyage in 1772, practically west-but not south, for the simple reason come for a general cargo for Tasmania. It encircled the Antarctic continent in the ship that it is countries full of people that attract brought potatoes to Sydney. Resolution, accompanied by the Adventure, our attention. The Antarctic continent is a Newcastle Sun (NSW), Monday 2 March and in particular sailed along practically the land without people — but with potential. 1953, page 9. whole length of what is how the Australian The Antarctic continent is as big as https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 sector. Australia and the United States combined. 60493204 In 1933 by a formal Act Australia inherited and took over the British claim to a third of 10

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

Antarctica, which is supported by United Potential Asset Our new Antarctic mainland station will Kingdom and Australian expeditions and But, it may be asked, why should the be a base from which in course of time all discoveries going back to 1831. Australian Government, as distinct from a these things and many others will be For the last six years Australia has number of individual intrepid Australian investigated. We will be in daily contact maintained well-equipped scientific and explorers, concern itself with the Antarctic with it by wireless and it will be visited weather stations on Heard and Macquarie continent? There are many reasons, which each summer by a supply ship. It is not Islands, in the cold seas off the Australian multiply as time goes on. Fifty years ago it impossible that we may be able to make Antarctic sector. Heard Island is 2,500 was probably the urge to explore the contact also by aircraft. miles south-west of Perth and Macquarie unknown that drove hardy and adventurous Island is 1,000 miles south-east of Hobart. men into the frozen and dangerous The New Pioneers Hobart is only 1,600 miles from the Antarctic. Today the reasons are more Our Antarctic mainland base will nearest part of the Australian Antarctic material. The world is more intensely represent a new form of Australian sector — not much farther than Hobart is competitive than it was. Australia has a pioneering. Most of the young men who from Brisbane. great potential asset in the big slice of the will man it will have served their Antarctic An Australian expedition is to go south in Antarctic that we claim. If we do not take apprenticeship for at least a year on Heard December to establish a research and action to support and make good our claim or Macquarie Islands. They will know weather station on the Antarctic mainland others may deny it to us. something of the endless discomfort and itself. This will be the latest of a series of First of all, weather reports wirelessed effort that Antarctic pioneering entails. The expeditions to the Antarctic continent in from Australian Antarctic Territories will Antarctic is no land of milk and honey. which Australians have been prominent enable weather in our southern States to be Some people will say that we are being over the last 50 years. The names of Sir more reliably forecast. Vast frigid air too ambitious — that we have enough Edgeworth David, Sir Douglas Mawson, Sir masses sweep northwards and then natural resources and problems on our own Hubert Wilkins, Captain J. K. Davis and eastwards from Antarctica and have a Australian mainland without bothering John Rymill, are famous in this field. considerable impact on Australian and New about the Antarctic. Capt. Cook was the pioneer of Antarctic Zealand weather. The stations of Heard and With the world rapidly contracting and exploration. The Antarctic Circle was Macquarie Islands were established to help with science overcoming obstacles so fast, crossed for the first time in the course of his meteorologists to keep tab on these air can we contemplate some other country famous voyage of 1772-75 by his ship the movements, and already their reports have getting in ahead of us on this great land Resolution — and he sailed along been of considerable value in Australia and mass so close to our south? practically the whole length of what is now New Zealand by giving warning of very West Australian (Perth, WA), Tuesday 26 the Australian Antarctic Territory. In the cold fronts which, if they arrived May 1953, page 2. years that followed, many British whalers unexpectedly, could cause great loss to https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5 and explorers sailed along the coastline of farmers and pastoralists. 5806174 the Antarctic continent to our south. The distinguished Australian who has Sea Food Resources 31 May 1953 contributed most to our knowledge of the However, these are the only two Blazing a Polar Air Route Australian Antarctic Territory is Sir Australian stations in the vast region from By Douglas Mawson, who led the Australian which so much of our weather comes and Jack Percival expedition of 1911-13, as well as the another station (or stations) on the Antarctic British, Australian and New Zealand Continent is urgently needed. The proposed expedition of 1929-31. Sir Douglas new station will be most valuable to Mawson today is a member of the planning meteorologists and to the farmers and committee which advises the Government pastoralists of Australia. on Antarctic matters. In the seas between Australia and our Antarctic Territory, we know that there are vast untapped resources of sea food in the form of whales, seals, fish, plankton and birds. About £30, 000,000 worth of whales, three quarters of the world's catch, was taken in 1952 by British, Dutch, Norwegian and Japanese whaling fleets operating in Antarctic waters. The food supply of the world is not This map shows how the new air service avoids Russian keeping pace with the increase in world territory while still taking the shortest available route. population. The world’s population increased by 15 per cent in the last 15 years Last week Scandinavian Airlines but the world’s food supply increased by introduced paying air travellers to a new only 10 per cent. There seems no doubt that route from Norway to Japan — a we will have to look to these Antarctic remarkable route across the northern polar waters to supplement the foodstuffs that the regions, which even a few years ago would land seems unable to supply in sufficiently have been impossible. increasing quantity. The passengers looked down on the fire- belching mountains of the Aleutians, the Minerals bleak tundras, the Arctic forest, gleaming We know that the Australian Antarctic faces of icecaps, and ranges of frozen sector contains great coal beds and other mountains which never have been explored. minerals. This is true also of the New They flew the route in ordinary clothes- Zealand Antarctic sector, which lies not wrapped in fur coats and specially immediately south of New Zealand. It is “winterised” clothing, but comfortable in The picture above shows the entire Australian National believed that there is close geological the warm, “pressurised” cabin of the latest Antarctic Research Expedition station on Macquarie Douglas DC6 airliner. Island. Most of the huts are huddled at the foot of a hill for similarity between parts of our Antarctic protection from the bleak weather. sector and the area between Adelaide and This new North Polar service has Bottom: A biologist in the biology laboratory at Heard Broken Hill in which ores of uranium, lead, particular interest for Australians, because Island makes a close study of the skull of a sea elephant they will meet similar problems in Some of these bull sea elephants measure 15ft in length silver, zinc and other valuable minerals and weigh about five tons. occur. organising air routes across the South Polar

11

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day region to other continents in the southern with steel cables to allow workmen to haul 6 June 1953 hemisphere. themselves from place to place. Polar Ship Now Supply Ketch The route of the trailblazing flight was Weather forecasting in the North Pole The former polar exploration vessel Oslo-Thule (Greenland) - Anchorage zone is now so accurate that our operators Wyatt Earp (400 tons), now named (Alaska) - Shemya (Japan). It passed will get plenty of notice of any conditions Wongala is serving as a supply ketch, comparatively close to the North Pole. such as these. carrying explosives. The advantages of a trans-polar route from What is happening in the North Polar Europe to the Far East are time, economy, Regions in air development is “just around and following winds. the corner” in Antarctica. Before the new trans-polar route was The Australian Government is quietly inaugurated there were two ways of getting working on plans to establish an air base in from Europe to Japan by air. the three million square miles shown in The routes from London were by way of atlases as Australian Antarctica. Cairo, Calcutta, Singapore and Hong Kong, Twelve nations are contesting claims to and by way of New York, San Francisco (or segments of Antarctica. Behind the Vancouver) and North Pacific islands. diplomatic moves is the strategic value of A cartoon ‘Wally and Major’ from the (Sun (Sydney, The flying time between London and Tokyo the area in global air transport. NSW), Saturday 6 June 1953, page 2.). by way of the Pole is 30 hours, com-pared Dr. Juan Lagomarsino, of the University with 40 hours by way of the present British of Uruguay’s National Institute of Commonwealth route around South-East Geographical Observations, recently told Asia. the 18th International Geographic Congress The trans-polar air route from Britain to at Washington that Antarctica offers several America’s west coast is 1,600 miles shorter possible way stations for future air routes. across the Pole than the track over the “If you will glance at the map,” he said, Atlantic. “you will note that Antarctica lies just in the Over the polar air route the prevailing middle of the course between Australia and winds at 25,000 feet are westerly with a South America. The Australian cities of force up to 40 miles hourly. North of Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth are much latitude 70 degrees the winds are easterly. nearer to Montevideo, Buenos Aires, and This means that following winds are Rio de Janeiro than are Rome, Paris, available for airliners flying in either London, Moscow, and other capitals of direction. Europe. One of the navigation difficulties “This is the reason why Antarctica, as an overcome was the notorious inaccuracy of aviation field, will be in the coming years a the magnetic compass in the region. Pilots real treasure,” he said. found that it showed errors as much as 180 Sunday Herald (Sydney, NSW), Sunday 31 degrees. May 1953, page 12. Another problem defeated was that of https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 An advertisement from the (West Australian (Perth, WA), icing. At first it seemed that heavy layers of 8512449 Saturday 6 June 1953, page 6.). ice forming on the wing and tail unit The Wongala, an auxiliary ketch, is surfaces might at any time force an airliner down on icy wastes; also, jagged, flying unloading thousands of cases of explosives chunks of ice hurled by the propellers might at Woodman Point. tear holes in the cockpit or rip off an The Wongala is one of the few wooden aileron, an elevator, or the rudder. ships which use sail remaining on the But applied experience of Royal Air Australian coast. Force and U.S. Army Air Force pilots In conjunction with her diesel engines she flying in the area reduced the icing risks to uses sail during most of her voyages. a minimum. Built to withstand the Arctic ice-packs the Wongala, then the Fanefjord, was built Thule Base in Norway for use as a herring boat in 1920. Then came the building of In 1933 she found herself in Antarctic Thule — a £30m air base in Greenland. waters as the base ship of the trans- Greenland 1953. *OSU Polar Archives [wilkins38_25_5]. Antarctic expedition planned and financed [Ultima Thule is a phrase used to describe by the American millionaire, Mr. Lincoln the furthermost limit possible. Thule was a 6 June 1953 Ellsworth. name used by the Greeks and Romans for Aust. explorer joins U.S. Army Accompanying Mr. Ellsworth was the the most northerly land in the world.] WASHING TON, Friday. — famous Australian born explorer, Sir Hubert Famous Australian explorer and author Wilkins, who acted as adviser. The Australian born Polar explorer, Sir Sir Hubert Wilkins today was named On the Wongala’s foredeck was a low- Hubert Wilkins, defeated Arctic frostbite geographer to the Research and winged monoplane, the Polar Star, which for the large American construction team Development Division of the US Army took part in many adventurous flights over which built the Thule base. Quarter master Corps. Antarctica. He designed the “coldbar suit,” using a Sir Hubert, 64, has lived in the US for 28 During World War 11 the Wongala was plastic padding developed by the Nazis as a years and has served as a special consultant used by the Australian Navy as an shock absorber for tanks and aircraft. to the US Army on Arctic and desert inspection vessel at Port Adelaide. This plastic, which looks like foam operations. He has made 10 expeditions to The expedition lasted nearly three years rubber, at minus 40 degrees remains the Arctic and Antarctic. and in 1938-39 Ellsworth and Wilkins flexible, whereas rubber would be stiff and He was named for his new position under again sailed the sturdy little craft into the hard. special Civil Service regulations applying icy waters of the Southern Ocean. The workmen who built Thule were paid to aliens. — AAP. Afterwards she was refitted to carry £4,000 to £6,000 a year. Sun (Sydney, NSW), Saturday 6 June 1953, scientists and stores to Heard Island but the Ground winds in the area sometimes page 2. voyage was not completed. blow with a force of 150 miles an hour; so https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 the hangars and machine shops were linked 3072848 12

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

The Wongala, which is now under the Museum. The material with which he command of Capt. Leo Meyer, still has her emerged from Arnhem Land astonished special icebreaking propeller and her bows nobody more than it did Australian are protected by steel plates. naturalists. But if neither Australia nor West Australian (Perth, WA), Saturday 6 Britain could find appropriate employment June 1953, page 6. for this restless son, USA soon had him in https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5 harness, and in association with Lt. Eielson 5808353 they made the first flight across the Arctic Ocean in 1927. They then switched south, and paid Antarctica the same gentle compliment. His next exploit was an attempt to reach the North Pole per submarine Nautilus, for which he paid Uncle Sam a dollar. She was fitted with a breathing tube years before the Germans called it a “snorkel” and used it on their submarines, and under the many “gadgets” with which she found herself adorned, Nautilus developed a peevishness which she displayed when under tests on the placid Hudson. She did nothing but under protest, and when Wilkins and his crew got her away the world wrote in advance the epitaph of the “mad Australian” and his hapless but willing crew. But they were wrong. The battered Nautilus did not reach the pole, but she did a 2000-mile journey under the northern ice-cap and returned with a dossier of scientific information much of which is still on the secret list. Sir Hubert Wilkins has acquired an English title and an American wife, and how much Australia will see of him is anybody’s guess. SHIP HAS ADVENTUROUS LINK WITH ANTARCTIC Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld), A small wooden ketch with a most adventurous past in Antarctic waters is now unloading thousands of cases of Saturday 24 October 1953, page 4. explosives at Woodman Point. She is the 400-ton Wongala https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5 (top picture), formerly the Antarctic exploration vessel An advertisement from the (Morning Bulletin 7279320 Wyatt Earp. The chief officer Mr. A. L. Lewis (bottom (Rockhampton, Qld), Saturday 24 October 1953, page 4.) picture) holds the old name of the ship over her present name. From the West Australian (Perth, WA), Saturday 6 June 1953, page 6.). man considered that with so much going to waste there, more knowledge of Antarctica 24 October 1953 might confer the greatest possible benefit ‘The Morning Bulliten’ on farmers like my people had been. Rockhampton, Apprenticed to an electrician, Wilkins Saturday, October 24, 1953 quickly became one of the most persistent SIR HUBERT WILKINS browsers in the library of the Adelaide If as Napoleon stated every soldier was School of Mines. Here he met the “movie” born with a marshal’s baton in his knapsack camera, and such was the affinity between and gilded youth were said to have been the two that Hubert soon ranked among the born with a silver spoon in their mouths, most proficient and most daring of Hubert Wilkins must have discovered either cameramen. He made of himself human an aeroplane or a submarine in his stocking ballast to mollify the temperamental French — or appropriate garment — when he was plane Depeurdussin when it became born. Such a discovery was indeed an hysterical aloft, a trick that was copied later heirloom, for the Rev. John Wilkins, on “Southern Cross” when flying the writing in his peaceful rectory in 1648, Tasman. predicted that underwater vessels would be A short spell as war correspondent in the major factors in naval warfare, and they Bulgarian Turkish war, then Canadian might also be used for travelling under ice explorer Dr Stefansson enlisted Wilkins as and great frosts which do so endanger second in command of his polar expedition. passages towards the North and South They poked contentedly about the draughty poles. Whether this gave to Jules Verne his Arctic, and World War 1 was two years old inspiration when writing more than 200 before Wilkins heard of it. But he quickly years later his startling “Twenty Thousand made up lost ground, and on returning to Leagues under the Sea” is not known, but it Australia was first made an air pilot, but inspired descendant Hubert Wilkins not at was soon transferred to the A.I.F. as official all. He knew nothing of the clerical ancestor photographer of him Monash said. “I know who mixed submarines with his philosophy, of no braver man.” and certainly, had not read his book. Wilkins saw his first polar snows when in Hubert Wilkins was born at Mt Bryan, 1920 he went with the British Antarctic Expedition, and was naturalist on the near Adelaide, on October 31, 1888, where An advertisement from the (West Australian (Perth, WA), there were few silver spoons, field expedition that lost Shackleton to the Saturday 14 November 1953, page 30.). marshal’s batons or submarines. But there nation. Then in 1923 he turned up in was a great lack of water, and the young Australia to collect fauna for the British 13

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

14 November 1953 efforts in 1947 led to the formation of the Commander Webb’s career is even more SALUTING HEROES OF Antarctic Planning Committee, and the adventurous than that of the little ship of DESOLATION Federal Government finally agreed that which he is second in command. A graduate Australia’s record of discovery and meteorological and scientific stations of the braining ship Conway of world research during the last 60 years among the should be set upon Heard and Macquarie renown, be first went to sea in 1901 and has frozen wastes that surround the South Pole Islands and maintained for at least five seldom left his chosen element since. is impressive. It finds its proper place in years. He claims to be one of the few ship’s Arthur Scholes’s book, “Seventh The establishment, maintenance and masters still afloat who got their “tickets in Continent.” work of these stations in the Antarctic wilds sail” and is probably the oldest officer of Captain Cook (in the years 1772, 76), the form the subject matter for a fitting his rank still with the Royal Australian Russian Admiral Fabian von conclusion to a record which is inspiring. naval reserve. Bellingshausen (1819), the Englishman The human qualities which have made He was a firm friend of the gallant Balleny (1838), D’Urville. Wilkes and Ross Australia have contributed, and continue to Captain H. H. Waller who went down with were the earlier explorers whose work did contribute, very largely, to the success his ship H.M.A.S. Perth in the fight against much to inspire later travellers but it was which has accrued to Antarctic exploration. impossible odds in the battle of the Java Sea not until 1890 that any serious effort was “Seventh Continent,” by Arthur Scholes. early in 1942. made to raise funds for an Australian George Allen and Unwin Ltd., London. On that occasion, Commander Webb was expedition. West Australian (Perth, WA), Saturday 14 in charge of a convoy which was taking November 1953, page 30. shiploads of soldiers and nurses to the relief Research Expedition. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5 of Java, then hard pressed by the victorious Japanese. Then it was that Henrick Johan Bull of 2940889 When the convoy was in sight of Java’s Melbourne, was moved to organise such an expedition, and in the ship Antarctic volcano-landmark Krakatoa, Captain completed the first truly Australian quest. 1954 Waller made a signal that he would In the early 1900’s the great reputations of continue on to Java, but that the convoy south polar exploration were being made. 4 January 1954 was to abandon its attempts to land and to turn in its tracks for Australia. Scott, Shackleton and Amundsen made ADVENTUROUS PAIR their famous journeys, and with each of VISIT CAIRNS. DIED BRAVELY these leaders went Australian scientists. SAILOR AND SHIP WITH A “We did, and that was the last I heard of HISTORY. Notable Names my old friend, who died so bravely a few ECHO or POLAR EXPLORATION. Probably the most notable of these were hours afterwards.” Commander Webb said the late Sir Tannat William Edgworth A ship and a seafaring man who arrived Before the war, Commander Webb was David (who died in 1934) and who had in Cairns together at the weekend could harbour master a Rabaul for 15 years, and become known as the greatest living provide enough Material between them for when the Japanese overran New Britain he geologist; Sir Douglas Mawson, Sir several full length adventure novels. went back to sea, being placed in charge of Raymond Priestley and Sir Hubert Wilkins. The ship was the tiny Wongala, formerly salvage work in northern waters. It was on expeditions with which the last known as the Wyatt Earp which, until about It was during this part of his service that named was associated that air exploration 14 years ago, was actively engaged in he made many friends in Cairns and of the “silent south” was developed and in Antarctic exploration work. elsewhere along the coast and he is taking 1929 Rear-Admiral R. E. Byrd made the The noted seafarer is Commander C. J. R. advantage of his present trip to renew those first flight to the South Pole. Webb RA.N. “S.” (retired) who is chief friendships. The earlier struggles to cover a limited mate aboard the Wongala for the duration Cairns Post (Qld), Monday 4 January 1954, area using dogs or men at motive power of her present voyage from Sydney to New page 5. Guinea ports and return. were largely out dated by the 1920’s. By https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4 The Wongala — or Wyatt Earp — began 1935 when Wilkins had joined the first 2803877 to sail into the world's Press headlines when Lincoln Ellsworth expedition, planes were she was taken over by the famous American coming to be regarded as essential, and the 9 January 1954 explorer Lincoln Ellsworth for adventuring “Polar Star” flight in that year will go Antarctic Expedition of Great Moment down as one of the major achievements in in the Antarctic. It was Ellsworth who bestowed the name To Australia Antarctic exploration. SOUTH EAST’S MAJOR PART In 1934 the South Australian, J. R. of Wyatt Earp on her, to commemorate a sheriff of that name in his own home The Antarctic expedition, which sailed Rymill organised the exploration of South from Melbourne on Monday to establish a Graham Land. He used plane, tractor, and county. Ellsworth commanded various American base 1,500 miles from the South Pole, was radio “and the old-fashioned but still of far greater importance to Australia than essential elements of strong, sound men.” expeditions to the Antarctic between 1933 and 1939 and on at least one of them was the passing interest merited to it by most By sound planning the terrible privations people, Senator K. A. Laught told “The which at one time had been regarded as accompanied by the equally famous Sir Hubert Wilkins, Australia’s polar explorer, Watch” this week. unavoidable, were eliminated. Senator Laught, who has taken a keen, Immediately before 1939 the Germans who was organiser, meteorologist, photographer and reporter — all in one. interest in the formation of the expedition, were becoming interested, in Antarctic said he considered that some information on matters, mainly perhaps with an eye on the In 1940 the ship was turned over to the Australian naval authorities and became Australia’s extensive Antarctic possessions, possibility of weather stations to aid aircraft and the men who had vouchsafed them for and sea raiders. Their secret reports, H.M.A.S. Wyatt Earp. During this phase of her career she was used as a scout vessel, us, should be appropriate at this time. unearthed after the war, showed that a “A striking feature of British work in warm area within the vast ice region patrolling the home coastline and checking on suspicious craft. Antarctica is the part played by men from covered 30,000 square miles. Post-war South Australia, amongst whom are Sir activity in the Antarctic included When the war ended, she was sold to her present owners, who use her as a trading Douglas Mawson, our own Mr. John expeditions sent by Chile and Argentina, Rymill the late Doctor C. T. Madigan, yet most noticeable was the visit of an ship, visiting ports in Australia, the islands and New Guinea. Commander Moves (a brilliant old scholar American task force under Admiral Byrd in of St. Peter’s College) and South Australian the summer of 1946-7. Although she was built in 1919 land might be described as ancient as a ship's born Sir Hubert Wilkins, who operated under the aegis of the United States of Stations age is reckoned, she is still splendidly sea- worthy and appears to be good for a long America,” he said. In this post-war period Australia has been far from inactive. Sir Douglas Mawson’s time to come. 14

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

ICY CONTINENT played, an important part in recent years in jackets, they will be proof against icy “The area, of the Antarctic Continent is Antarctic exploration. winds. estimated at approximately five million “Rear Admiral Byrd in 1923 made a square miles, of which, almost half lies flight over the South Pole, and in 1933 within the Australian Antarctic Territory. Lincoln Ellsworth the great American, “The Continent lies under an enormous accompanied by the distinguished South coating of ice, estimated to be in places six Australian born Sir Hubert Wilkins, made thousand feet thick. At the South Pole, the flights to the Pole. Rear Admiral Byrd came surface of the ice is about ten thousand feet again in 1947, when he made another flight. above sea level. In winter the ocean surface freezes, and an impenetrable barrier of pack MR. RYMILL'S VISIT ice icebergs surrounds the Continent, whilst “The work of Mr. J. R. Rymill, of Penola, in summer, when the action of the sun, in any survey of Antarctica must not go un- wind and weather has loosened the ice noticed,” said Senator Laught. pack, vessels are in places able to find their In 1934-37 he led with great distinction Huskies bred by the Australian National Antarctic way to land. the British Graham Land Expedition to that Research Expedition on Heard Island will draw sledges for members of the 1954 expedition to Antarctica. “An Imperial Order in Council of part of Antarctica as lies directly south of Forebears of these dogs went to Heard Island with the February 7, 1933, placed under Australian the South American continent. 1947 expedition. authority all the islands and territories other “For his services hero, he received very than Adelie Land which are situated south high distinction and awards from scientific Ice era suits, made from charcoal-grey of the 60th degree of South Latitude and societies both in the United Kingdom and facecloth, which is like the material used lying between the 160th degree of East the United States of America. for army nurses’ greatcoats, have trousers Longitude and the 45th degree of East “In farewelling the expedition on January belted at the cuffs to keep out the wind, and Longitude.” 4, the Minister for External Affairs (Mr zippered coats cut with raglan “action” “Expressed in relation to the better Casey) said some people had stated that sleeves. known, parts of the world, the scope of Australia was being too ambitious. Field parties living under canvas will Australian Antarctica covers the most However they could not overlook the sleep in eider-down sleeping-bags on an southerly third of the distance from the possibilities of the Antarctic. insulated platform floor. equator to the South Pole and stretches Australia might well be grateful for the The expedition, which is made up of 10 from directly south of Madagascar off the work of these men in the years to come,” he picked scientists and technicians, is under African coast, to directly south of Lord said. the control of the Director of the Antarctic Howe Island off the Australian coast — a Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA), Division of the Department of External vast area of sea with a land area greater Saturday 9 January 1954, page 12. Affairs, Mr. Phillip Law, who will than, the Continent of Australia. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7 supervise the landing and installation of “The excepted area of Adelie Land 8676407 men and equipment. belonging to France intersects the He will then return in the Kista Dan, a Australian area and lies directly south of the Danish ice breaker chartered to trans-port well-known points on the Australian coast the expedition, leaving 32-year-old of Port Lincoln and Nelson. surveyor Bob Dovers, of Wollongong, N.S.W., in charge of the mainland party. ALREADY OCCUPIED Boyish, fair-haired Bob Dovers has had “Macquarie Island is about 1000 miles “cold” fever ever since he was a member, south, east of Hobart, and has been a of the pioneer expedition which carried out dependency of Tasmania since the the first accurate survey of Heard Island in Nineteenth Century. Heard Island, about 1947. 2500 miles south west of Fremantle, was In 1952 he trudged over 600 miles of transferred from the United Kingdom to snow on foot behind dog sledges, as Australian control in 1947. Australia’s official observer with the “In 1947, the Australian Government French expedition. Altogether he has had decided to take further action in respect to four trips south. the Antarctic. An executive committee was Genial Lem Macey, of Coogee, N.S.W., set up consisting of representatives of is an old hand at polar exploration. His wife C.S.I.R.O. Sir Douglas Mawson was co- first became an “Antarctic widow” when he opted as adviser. left home six years ago with the first Heard “Later in the year it was decided to set up Island party. His job with the expedition is scientific and meteorological stations on that of technical superintendent and senior An advertisement from the (Border Watch (Mount radio officer. Heard and Macquarie Islands. Gambier, SA), Saturday 9 January 1954, page 12.). “A little more than a year ago, the Menzies Chief weather man is 33-year-old Bob Government decided to send an expedition 13 January 1954 Dingle. He is a Cornishman and was a member of the 1951 expedition to Heard. to the Antarctic to establish and maintain an Zero year for Antarctic explorers Antarctic station, in addition to the existing Before coming to Australia he proved his They face sunburn danger in land of ice stations on Heard and Macquarie Islands. worth as a Royal Air Force pathfinder. and snow “Extensive preparations have been taking He had 42 missions over Europe to his place ever since. By Mary Coles, staff reporter credit before being taken prisoner of war. Members of Australia’s latest Antarctic The bureau he will establish in Antarctica OTHES STATIONS expedition, scheduled to leave Melbourne may prove important in long-range weather “Apart from Australia and France, New on January 9 for a year at the South Pole, forecasting. Zealand, the United Kingdom, Norway, do not expect to feel the intense cold, but New Zealand scientist Bruce Stinear will South Africa, Chile and the Argentine have they may be in some danger of sunburn. search for important minerals. all claimed Antarctic Territory the latter In Polar Regions the snow reflects every Engineer John Russell, of Ashfield, country even introduced the element of ray of sun, and working parties on the job, N.S.W., who is in charge of vehicles, scoffs armed disputation recently in support of its stripped to the waist and perspiring, may at the idea of being bored in the Antarctic. negotiations for Territorial rights. burn before they realise it. When fully He believes that time will never hang “So far the United States of America, has dressed, however, their “ice era” suits heavily even when daylight dwindles to an made no specific claim for territory, but has covered with wind-proofs and eider-down hour a day in the depth of winter.

15

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

Wilkins will appear again in Antarctica, this practice landings on floats in Port Phillip time worn by radio operator and postman Bay, Victoria. Bill Storer, of Muswellbrook, N.S.W. In ice and snow bound areas they will He got it from some Wilkins Expedition land the planes on skis. stores which have been “on ice” in R.A.A.F. members will return to Melbourne since before the war. Melbourne with the Kista Dan when the While Bill is away, his fiancee, Sister Jan landings and survey flights have been Mills, of Prince Henry Hospital, Sydney, completed. will spend the year doing an obstetrics Flight - Lieutenant Leckie’s daughters, course. Maina (aged 13) and Sylvia (9), have Going back after an absence of more than commissioned him to bring them back a 20 years is Jack of-all-trades cook, Jeff baby seal. Gleadell, of Kurri Kurri, N.S.W., who was Director Phillip Law says that the wives down south with Sir Hubert Wilkins’ 1929- and families of men who have been “taken Snow Vehicle, known a “weasel,” which will be part of the 1930 expedition. up” by Antarctic exploration now accept equipment of the Antarctic expedition due to leave This time, instead of working in a ship's their husbands’ long absences with a spirit Melbourne on January 9. It has been fitted with a roof "escape" hatch as an emergency exit in the event of being galley, his kitchen will be ultra-modern of sweet resignation. snowed in. Engineer member of the expedition, John with long-burning anthracite and gas stoves. “They realise that the love of adventure is Russell, stands beside it. Like a suburban housewife he’ll whip up a disease from which there's no recovery,” meals in pressure-cooker saucepans, he added. produce hot rolls for breakfast, and bake Outlining the debt to the men who fancy cakes. pioneered polar exploration Mr. Law Jeff is also planning to make gallons of explained that successive expeditions from ice-cream a favourite dessert served with the days of Scott, Sir Douglas Mawson and tinned fruit, which will be put outside the John Rymill had each contributed kitchen door a few minutes to freeze before something valuable to the technique of being served. living and working under difficult Two Royal Australian Air Force Auster conditions. aircraft, tinier even than Gipsy Moths, are Australian Women’s Weekly (1933 - 1982), stowed aboard the Kista Dan. Wednesday 13 January 1954, page 23. Flown by Flight-Lieutenant, Douglas https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4 Behring Straits 1954. *OSU Polar Archives [38_15_6] Leckie, of Sandringham, Victoria, and Sgt. 8201872 Ray Seaver, of Forbes, N.S.W., they will be Vehicles, which include a tractor and used to guide the expedition ship through 5 May 1954 Antarctic pack ice and make reconnaissance three U.S. wartime snow vehicles known as INIGO JONES OF AMERICA flights along the coast in search of a “weasels,” have powerful headlamps which By A Special Correspondent mainland base site. will enable inland working parties to keep America has a weather forecaster like Flight - Lieutenant Leckie remembered Ray on exploring even in the long darkness. Australia’s Inigo Jones — and he is an Seaver as a keen young trainee pilot he had Big distances will be also covered by Australian! instructed at Point Cook, Victoria, in 1951. sledges, drawn by Huskies, bred for the job Explorer, war correspondent and When he chose Ray as his co-pilot Ray was on Heard Island, where their parents and photographer, Sir Hubert Wilkins, winner just back from Korea, where he had grandparents settled with the pioneer of the Military Cross with Bar, F.R.G.S., distinguished himself by making 100 raids expedition. F.R.Met.S., M.B., sits back in his armchair over enemy lines in less than six months. Bob Dovers is looking for-ward to a lot at the Explorers’ Club in New York City of help from Georges Schwartz in and cracks jokes. His pet gag is about the managing the dogs. meteorologist who went broke because he M. Schwartz will join the Kista Dan at could not depend on the weather. Kerguelen Island, as French observer. He But that particular joke rebounds on has been in Adelie Land, Antarctica, for Wilkins himself for, during World War II two years and is a tidal observations and today, the United States Air Force and specialist. American citizens consider the weather Anticipating the unexpected, every almost depends on Wilkins. member of the expedition has voluntarily Yet I stood with this great Australian in had his appendix removed, to make sure “it his ship when he came back to this country can’t happen there.” in 1939 seeking a weather job and we The last member to discard his healthy turned him away. We failed to recognise in appendix just before Christmas was ex- Sir Hubert his gift for long-range weather English public school boy William Harvey, forecasting. who is going as carpenter. Not many people in the United States He is a Scot, educated at Stowe, and served know that the man who was invested with his apprenticeship on the Clyde, Scotland, their meritorious civilian service decoration as a ship’s joiner. while serving in the United States Army is Melbourne University Ski Club and water not an American, but a South Australian. polo enthusiast Dr. Robert Summers, of His towering shoulders stamp him a man Brighton, Victoria, will have a fully of strength and he is over 6ft high. equipped surgery with anaesthetics, modern A great deal of the credit for making him drugs, blood transfusion kit, and a portable Director of the expedition, Mr. P. G. Law (right), checks gear aboard the Kista Dan, which will transport the party an outstanding scientist goes to the X-ray. to the Antarctic, with expedition leader, Robert Dovers. Adelaide School of Mines. Sir Langdon But he is not expecting patients to suffer Bonython, its sponsor, looked upon Sir from colds or flu. With groundstaff team Sgt. Frank Hubert from the time he was a dark, lanky With the mean summer temperatures Morgan, of Windsor, N.S.W., and Sgt. Ken child in his teens, as an extraordinary never above freezing point and 60 degrees Duffel, from Bankstown, N.S.W., Flight- student. “below” in winter, cold germs find the Lieutenant Leckie and Ray plugged every “He walks about as if he owns the place,” going too tough to exist. crevice in the aircraft’s cabins to keep out Sir Langdon said. A red woollen fez which went down “draughts” and spent months making south with polar explorer Sir Hubert 16

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

Wilkins settled down to study till the Army has just built at Natick, travelling urge bit him so hard that in 1912 Massachusetts. he was, of all places, right in the middle of The laboratory is equipped with climate the Balkan War as war photographer with chambers, designed by Sir Hubert, capable the Turkish Army! of reproducing desert conditions of 180deg. Fahrenheit and Polar conditions of 80 degrees below to test all manner of equipment, clothing, and food needed for survival at the extremes of temperature. The laboratory has set up a “Wilkins Room,” with trophies of Sir Hubert’s submarine trip under the Arctic ice in 1931 and his historic pioneer flight across the Pole from Alaska to Spitzbergen in 1928. Sir Hubert and Lady Wilkins. *OSU Polar Archives Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW), Monday [wilkins35_20_16]. 4 October 1954, page 11. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 The Wilkins apartment in Manhattan is 48948295 usually occupied by a lonely Lady Wilkins,

but for two weeks Sir Hubert stayed put in it, which is a record for him. 1955 The peripatetic Australian, first man to fly over the Arctic Ocean and first to travel 29 January 1955 SIR HUBERT WILKINS under it by submarine, is now chief PERSONALITY

consultant to the U.S. Army on food, Stefansson took him on his expedition to clothing, and methods of survival in cold- the North Pole from 1913 to 1917, he rose climate warfare. to become second-in-command. Over luncheon at Broadways theatrical In 1917 he won the Military Cross and restaurant, Sardi’s, Sir Hubert told Lady Bar in World War I and was mentioned in Wilkins and myself of an incident at Thule, dispatches. He gained his commission in new and security-shrouded U.S. Air Force the Australian Flying Corps during his base in Greenland, which occurred during service as a photographer. his most recent visit to the far north. In 1919 Wilkins got a job as the navigator “Everyone at Thule listens to Radio of the Blackburn Kangaroo plane on its Moscow’s nightly musical programmes, eventful trip from England to Australia. which are of excellent quality and can be When the British Imperial Antarctic heard with great clarity,” Sir Hubert said. Expedition was formed in 1920-21, Wilkins “One evening the music was suddenly cut was appointed second-in-command. off, and a voice said in English: “In case Shackleton gave him a job as naturalist with you fellows don’t know it, the light has just the Shackleton Rowett Quest in 1921-22. gone off on your control tower.” “Sure He led many subsequent expeditions, going enough, the light was out,” Sir Hubert nine times to the Arctic and nine times to added. “The Russians apparently wanted to Sir Hubert Wilkins... the Antarctic. have some fun with us, and incidentally let A MODERN From 1933 to 1939 Wilkins worked with us know they were keeping a pretty sharp JULES VERNE the Ellsworth Trans-Antarctic journeys as watch on activities at Thule.” By ARTHUR SCHOLES, F.R.G.S. the manager of the party. According to Sir Hubert, the Russians (Member of two expeditions to the When Wilkins announced his intention of have their own version of Thule on Franz Antarctic) exploring Polar Regions in a submarine, Joseph Island, in Russian Arctic waters, and At the outbreak of World War II, an many people thought he was mad, many are supposed to have one-third of their air Australian citizen, living in others wanted to get in the crew. force concentrated in Arctic regions. America wrote to both the British and So far, he has failed to burrow under the Australian Governments offering his polar icepacks in his submarine, Nautilus, Literally, the cold war. services in any capacity. but, knowing his tenacity, I would not be Sir Hubert, now in his sixties, is a He mentioned that he had experience as a surprised if we hear soon that he will make striking man. “I have been told I look like soldier, aviator, engineer, naturalist, another attempt. Lenin, which is not good these days,” he weather expert, author and — most Sydney Morning Herald (NSW), said with a smile, “but I have also been told important polar explorer, Wednesday 5 May 1954, page 13. I look like Smuts, which is all right.” Sir The Australian Government replied in the https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 Hubert, born in the outback of South standard way — it would call on his 8437334 Australia, retains his Australian citizenship, services if they were required. despite 13 years of service with the U.S. The British War Office asked him to send 4 October 1954 Army. references about himself from two LETTER FROM NEW YORK. “I have civilian status, but on duty in the reputable people and his personal Two bearded and dynamic individuals north I wear the U.S. Army uniform and am biography. Even when he supplied these, he provided me with a fascinating few hours accorded the privileges of a colonel,” Sir heard nothing further. this week. Hubert said. “I have taken an oath of Yet this man was Sir Hubert Wilkins who Beard Number One, a pepper and salt loyalty to the U.S. Army, but was not had had personal experience of the world Van Dyke, was attached to the lean and required to swear allegiance to the U.S. or from pole to pole and from east to west. He handsome, face of Sir Hubert Wilkins, its flag.” had been the first to fly over the North Pole veteran Arctic explorer, taking his first Sir Hubert, long acknowledged one of the and the first to attempt to travel under the holiday in 25 years of wandering the world's leading authorities on survival in ice floes in a submarine, a man who had world’s frontiers. He took time off to tropical jungles as well as Arctic vastness, survived untold hardships and adventures celebrate his silver wedding anniversary to will be principal guest of honour next week — and one who had an uncanny knack in former Australian actress Suzanne Bennett. at the opening of the 15,000,000 dollar long-range weather forecasting. But it research and development centre the U.S. appeared that neither Australia nor Britain

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The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day had any use for such a man, even in a world from his homeland and talks nostalgically For several years Wilkins attended night war. of getting “south again sometime”. classes at the Adelaide School of Mines Not so the Government of the United It is his greatest disappointment that so where he was considered an extraordinary States of America. They even passed a new many of his discoveries have had to be student — distinctive because he walked act through the US Congress to enable made under the Stars and Stripes instead of around as if he owned the place. Wilkins to work with their War the Union Jack or the Commonwealth flag. His first adventure came when after Department. He was allowed to take the In 1947 in the early stages of the post-war stowing away from Adelaide he turned up oath of allegiance to the war aims of the US race for the Antarctic, as soon as he heard in London with his camera just when Government and not to the United States of a proposed American expedition, at that “movies” were becoming established. There flag. time he wrote strongly advising the was plenty of scope for a skilful cameraman Thus he was able to retain his Australian Australian Government to send their own who was prepared to risk anything to get citizenship which, despite the knockbacks expedition to the Antarctic to protect their unusual shots for the newsreel of those he has had, he still values so highly. territorial claims against possible counter- days. Wilkins became adviser in World War II to claims by the US. His camera “scoops” brought him a job the US Army Quartermaster's Research “I have long believed it would be highly with Pathe of Paris at the then fabulous Department at Washington on problems of profitable for Australia to exploit the wage of £2000 a year. polar, desert and jungle warfare. Antarctic areas to which she has laid On one occasion he plummeted to the He has remained in this type of job ever claim,” Sir Hubert said in his letter. ground over Paris in a collapsed balloon. since with the US Government and today is It was one time that Australia did accept his The pilot was killed but Wilkins crawled geographer in the Research and advice by acting promptly. out unhurt. Development Division of the US Army Born in 1888 at Mt. Bryan East (South Quartermaster General’s Department. Australia), Wilkins spent his early years on This work entails study of meteorological his father's wheat and cattle station. information and the preparing of equipment Droughts were frequent and time and time and weapons for use under varying climatic again he, like everyone else, wished it were conditions. He is constantly in the great possible to know when droughts were American Air Force bases in the Arctic, coming and how long they would last so studying and advising on the many aspects that farmers could be prepared. of survival in conditions which he knows so “As soon as I began to realise the effect of well. polar weather conditions on climate In this job he holds the rank of colonel, generally, I was fascinated by the and although technically it is a civilian post possibilities,” he said in talking recently on he is accorded all the privileges of his high his early days. It was, no doubt, this battle rank. with droughts and weather vagaries that Wilkins has been described as the decided him to study, in later years, the “modern Jules Verne”, the “most famous Antarctic (and Arctic) storms and their Sir Hubert with his wife former Australian actress Australian of whom Australians know effect on weather conditions all over the Suzanne Bennett, taken before start of Ellsworth least”, and “America’s Inigo Jones”. world. Expedition. He is actually one of that rare race of In his restless life in 71 of the earth’s adventurers who seem never happy unless countries he has battled against hardships in On another he acted as human ballast in a they are defying death and seemingly icy wastes, under the North Pole, and in test flight of the single-seater Depeurdussin, insurmountable odds. deserts. first aircraft to have a 100-hp. engine. Despite the breadth of his experience and Wilkins sat astride the fuselage and the importance of his discoveries, both whenever the pilot called for an adjustment meteorologically and geographically of the weight he crawled up and down as speaking, he has rarely been able to interest directed. the Australian Government in financing one He became the first war correspondent to of his many trips into the Polar Regions. fly when he was covering the Turko- Bulgarian War of 1912. Mistaken for a spy, he was imprisoned but escaped shortly before the firing squad appeared. His most treasured “shot” on this assignment was taken behind the Bulgarian lines when the angry King Ferdinand of Bulgaria in a pop-eyed tantrum threatened Wilkins with his walking stick if he took his picture. Wilkins still took the picture.

Aboard the submarine Nautilus Sir Hubert farewells his Excitement, adventure wife before setting out for Polar Regions. Above (top): His His skill as a photographer gave Wilkins photographic record of the trip revealed many hitherto the chance he longed for — a chance at unknown mysteries of the region. polar exploration, when, in 1913, he was appointed second in command to the famous “Stefansson of the North” who Wilkins and Eielson (left) made the first flight across the explored the Canadian Arctic from 1913 to Arctic Ocean in a monoplane. 1917. Much as Wilkins enjoyed this work he Young stowaway was chagrined, on his return to civilisation, He is almost a stranger to his native land to find that a world war had been raging for which is, perhaps, why he has lived in the two years in his absence. United States for the past thirty years. He rushed back to Australia and became Nevertheless, no matter how busy he is, a pilot in the Australian Flying Corps but or where he is, he always finds time to visit was soon transferred to the AIF as an Australian information offices overseas. He official photographer. looks through the latest books and papers

18

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

Wilkins returned to Britain convinced, They stopped 400 miles from the North nevertheless, that aeroplanes could be used Pole and carried out scientific work, successfully throughout an Antarctic collecting information about Polar currents summer. which will prove of great value in future No polar expeditions were in the offing, under-ice navigation, only now becoming a so Wilkins continuing his search for recognised form of defence in these frozen adventure, returned to Australia from his waters. travels in Europe in 1923 and abandoned It is interesting to note that the first both flying and thoughts of polar expedition atomic-powered submarine, recently for the next three years. launched by the US Navy and already on its On a mission to collect native fauna for trials, is named Nautilus. the British Museum, Wilkins lived in the Sir Hubert considers that atomic powered remotest parts of Arnhem Land, in areas submarines would provide a powerful and with tribes which had never before seen weapon for the US Navy in any war against a white man. the Soviet. His dramatic experiences on this venture He considers that such submarines hiding provided the material for his book under the Arctic ice cap could be used to ‘Undiscovered Australia’. control guided missiles. He had hardly returned to London before, The submarines could also carry radio in 1926 he was off to Point Barrow, Alaska, control equipment, rocket bombs and to fly across the Arctic. He found, however, boring tubes to enable their crews to reach that his heavy tri-motored plane would hot the surface. lift off the ground. Millionaire’s adviser Wonder flight Quite apart from the usefulness of the The following year he linked up with a Arctic ice cap in the event of war, however, pilot. Lieutenant Ben Eielson of Dakota, Sir Hubert still considers that it holds the USA, and the pair, in a Lockheed Vega, the key to world prosperity in peacetime. first plane in aviation history fitted with He has been urging on the US both landing wheels and skis for the snow, Government the internationalisation of made the first flight over the top of the meteorological services to permit the world — across the Arctic Ocean. development of long range weather They were given up for lost at one stage forecasting, when blizzards forced them down on “We must know well in advance “the appropriately named Deadman’s Island but world’s agricultural requirements,” he says. An advertisement from the (World’s News (Sydney, NSW), they won through to safety to achieve what “That's the only way to solve the world’s Saturday 29 January 1955, page 38.). pilots of today still rank as one of the economic problems and eventually keep the greatest navigation feats of all time. peace.” He certainly struck all the excitement and Wilkins found, at this time, that he had After his journey under the Arctic ice, adventure he wanted in that job. He was more aircraft than he needed. He sold one Wilkins turned again to the Antarctic and wounded nine times, won the MC and bar, — a tri-motored Fokker — to an Australian made his fourth journey south in 1933 this was mentioned twice in despatches and rose who was to become even more famous than time in an expedition planned and financed to the rank of captain. he himself was. The purchaser’s name was by Lincoln Ellsworth, son of a Chicago In the Middle East operations of the Charles Kingsford Smith and it was millionaire coal owner, and a World War I A.I.F., Wilkins met Frank Hurley. This Wilkins’ old plane which became famous as flyer. The Australian went as adviser. contact was probably the spark that later set the Southern Cross. It was intended to make a 3000 mile Wilkins off on his Antarctic wanderings, as Wilkins and Eielson went South with flight from Little America, in the Bay of Hurley had already been in the south with their Vega to make the first Antarctic flight Whales, to the head of the Weddell Sea and Mawson and Shackleton as their and to be the first men to discover new back, extending to 15 days if necessary. photographer. Antarctic land from the air. One of the objects was to make a rough After the war Wilkins took part, Next came the most incredible ad-venture survey of this portion of the continent. unsuccessfully, in the England-Australia air of them all — Wilkins’ voyage in the race won by Ross and Keith Smith, and submarine Nautilus. This was an antiquated then left for the Antarctic with the British craft that he had bought from the US Navy Imperial Expedition under the leadership of for 4/-. J. L. Cope. Cope planned to take 12 old It was on its way to the scrap heap and RAF surplus bombers to King Edward VII was only sold to him on the condition that Land and from there make a daring flight to he scuttle her as soon as his expedition was the South Pole. over. The organisers, however, could not Wilkins had Nautilus fitted up with skis obtain enough support for the project and on top for he intended to travel in it to the the planes were returned to the RAF. North Pole but under the ice. He also fitted Wilkins, not to be deterred from his Nautilus with the forerunner of the snorkel Antarctic trip, went south in a convoy of tube — later claimed to have been invented The Arctic sub Nautilus (arrow) oil extensive diving tests. Norwegian whalers. by the Nazis during World War II. Rescued from a US junk-heap it has been used in Meanwhile, Sir Ernest Shackleton, “My old Arctic submarine Nautilus had numerous explorations. already a veteran of Antarctic exploration, such a tube,” Wilkins said discussing his The expedition left New Zealand in the had organised an expedition for the south in trip years later. “It also had electrically motor-ship Wyatt Earp, named in honour of a small ship named Quest. Impressed by the heated cutters on top to make a hole in the a famous Texas marshal who was great strides made by aviation during World ice so that it could emerge into the air.” Ellsworth’s boyhood hero. War I, he decided to carry an aeroplane as When Nautilus and her crew dived under The Wyatt Earp was formerly a the eyes of his post war venture. Wilkins the ice cap few people held out any hope Norwegian herring boat of 400 tons, built to went as naturalist with the party but the for the “mad Australian” and his withstand the Arctic ice-pack. Aboard it venture was ill-fated as Shackleton died companions. However Nautilus lumbered was their low-winged Northrop monoplane soon after the ship reached Rio de Janeiro along for 2000 miles under the ice, named Polar Star. on the way south. His plane never flew. sometimes 15ft thick. 19

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

Restless rover World’s News (Sydney, NSW), Saturday 29 But she doesn't be live in careers for The Bay of Whales was reached on January 1955, page 8. women! January 6, 1934, and five days later a trial https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 “The only really happy life for a woman flight was made. It was a complete success, 33914874 is to be married and have children,” she but bad weather intervened, and a week says firmly. later the ice, which was 15ft thick, broke up 21 October 1955 “A career's maybe all right for a woman for a distance of five miles from the ship Career woman (with no family) advises . till she’s 40. But after that she wants to and the project was abandoned. MARRY . . HAVE relax. And she can’t. No she should have Sir Hubert was down in the Antarctic CHILDREN got married in the first place.” regions in 1935 and 1938. On the last by Freda Irving “If that’s so, what about you?” I asked expedition he flew the Australian flag — Bubbling - with - enthusiasms her yesterday. the first time — from the Rauer Islands and Lady Wilkins, wife of Polar explorer and “Me? Oh, but I haven’t got any children, reported to the Australian Government on scientist Sir Hubert, is a six-fold careeerist- so my singing, my painting, and the rest, his visit to our Antarctic possessions. she’s singer, actress, painter, farmer, dress they are my children. And anyway, my Ellsworth, mainly through the advice of designer and writer. She’s a devoted wife husband’s so rarely home he's always away Wilkins, offered the Wyatt Earp to the too. exploring or doing some scientific job for Australian Government as an exploration (And she also “dabbles” in real estate, very the U.S. Government,” she said. ship and the offer was accepted. In later successfully I gather, and studies Now the sparkling Lady W. is about to years the Wyatt Earp made several astrology). add an eighth to her roles in life — she’s Antarctic trips under the Australian flag. just back in her home country to help sister When war came, Wilkins immediately Mrs. John Latimer redecorate her home, offered his services to the Australian Ranelagh, Mt. Eliza, as a guest house for Government and to the British Government Olympic visitors. with the result already mentioned. Born in Walhalla, where her father was a His services, rightly so, were snapped up mining engineer, Lady Wilkins, then by the United States Government and he Suzanne Bennett, was set on the road to has lived in the United States ever since fame by Dame Nellie Melba, a road that led where his great experience has been used her to success in all her career roles and as a constantly by the US Government. sought after New York identity. Wilkins has been in 71 of the world’s 187 She still sings professionally. Six years countries and his life has been so restless ago she took up portrait painting as a hobby that for 30 years he has never been in one and turned it into a profession, and now country for more than six successive weeks. she’s embarked on writing a book. Only last year when celebrating his 25th “What about? Oh my life and people I’ve wedding anniversary to Suzanne Bennett, met. I’ll probably end up in gaol.” she beautiful former Australian actress, he spent chuckles. a full fortnight with her in his New York Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), Friday 21 October apartment to mark the occasion. 1955, page 9. Lady Wilkins told friends that it was the https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7 longest time her adventurous husband had 1702783 spent at home since they were married. She actually hoped that he might at last be ready to settle down but a few days later he had 1957 left to spend his thirtieth winter in the Arctic. 21 May 1957 Wilkins is regarded as one of the Explorers Find Wilkins’ Flag in Lady Wilkins sings for The Argus beside a portrait of a foremost polar explorers between the wars girl she met in a New York park” which she painted for Antarctica and the pioneer air explorer of the Antarctic her sister, Mrs. John Latimer. An Australian flag, and a message left by Continent. the well-known Australian explorer, Sir Many Australians wonder why his great Hubert Wilkins, 18 years ago, has been experience has not been utilised by the discovered by Australian explorers at the Australian Government. It would be new Australian Antarctic base at Davis. invaluable as a guide to the newer This was announced yesterday by the generation of RAAF flyers in the Antarctic Minister for External Affairs, Mr. Casey, Regions. who said the message and flag were in a There is no doubt, however, that Wilkins’ small container beneath a boulder achievements have provided a solid surmounted by a cairn of small rocks. groundwork and example for the later The survey party, which found Sir Australian airmen. Hubert’s message comprised geologist Some of the problems that beset Wilkins Bruce Stinear, surveyor Morris Fisher, and in his pioneer polar flights, freezing of the radio operator Nils Lied. runners, ice on the wings and control of Canberra Times (ACT), Tuesday 21 May planes in the terrific hurricanes are still the 1957, page 1. worry of today’s fliers. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9 Though Wilkins is a great internationalist 1589003 he is still an Australian at heart — he has never relinquished his Australian 25 November 1957 citizenship — and it must irk him that in practically all his expeditions he has never Criticism of U.S. Antarctic Station travelled under the flag of his homeland. NEW YORK, Sunday (A.A.P. Reuter). — What a team of famous leaders Australia Veteran Australian explorer Sir Hubert could muster in the great international Wilkins has a critical view of the American Antarctic exploration and scientific project armed services’ establishment in the that is being planned for 1956-57. Antarctic. Mawson, Rymill and Wilkins and not the The actual Lady Wilkins Painting. *OSU Polar Archives An American Associated Press despatch least of these would be Hubert Wilkins. [wilkins35_20_16]. from McMurdo Sound quotes Sir Hubert as 20

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day saying, after a month’s inspection of the 21 February 1958 Many scientists were among mourners U.S. Naval air facility there, that the armed SIR HUBERT WILKINS who crowded St. Andrew’s Episcopal services had much to learn about building World renowned South Australian born Church today at the funeral rites. and operating stations in the Antarctic. explorer Sir Hubert Wilkins visited At the time of his death, Sir Hubert was The famed explorer, at 69, still kept pace Adelaide this week for the first time for 17 serving as a geographer with the U.S. with younger men during his trip in which years. Army’s Research and Development Centre. he spent considerable time talking to the A well-known Victor Harbour resident, He was specifically engaged in the 300 men inhabiting the main American the late Mr. Harry Wilkins, was a brother of development of protective equipment for operating base, 820 miles from the South Sir Hubert, and another brother for many use in the Arctic and Antarctic. Pole. years judged the sheep-dog trials here. On Sir Hubert never renounced his British He found it lacked the neatness of a the occasion of a former visit to this State, nationality, although he had worked and military camp, was below average in Sir Hubert came to Victor Harbour to lived in the United States for many years. morale, and needed changes to increase meet relatives here, when he attended the Canberra Times (ACT), Saturday 6 comfort and efficiency. Primary School and gave a talk to the December 1958, page 3. Canberra Times (ACT), Monday 25 children. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 November 1957, page 5. It is regrettable that he did not visit Victor 03062073 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9 Harbour again this time, but he had to leave 1243598 for America on Tuesday. 12 December 1958 Victor Harbour Times (SA Friday 21 Late Sir Hubert Wilkins February 1958, page 4. Sir Hubert Wilkins, 71, who died https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 suddenly in America on 1st December, was 86738685 born at Mount Bryan, South Australia, in 1888. He was a brother of the late Mr. Harry Wilkins, of Victor Harbour, and was a descendant of a pioneering family. On 21st April, 1836, the barque “Emma,” (164 tons) left London under the command of I. Nelson with 22 emigrants aboard and arrived at Nepean Bay, Kangaroo Island, on October 5th after five months and 14 days on the water. Among those on board were Mr. and Mrs. Harry Wilkins and their eldest son, William. They were the grandparents and uncle of Mr. Harry Wilkins (previously mentioned, of Victor Harbour) and George Hubert (later Sir Hubert) Wilkins. Sir Hubert’s father (a third Harry Wilkins) was born soon after the arrival of An advertisement from the (Canberra Times (ACT), his parents in the colony, being one of the Monday 25 November 1957, page 5.). first, if not the first, white male child born in South Australia. 1958 Hubert became a photographer with the Turkish Army in the Balkan War of 1912 An advertisement from the (Victor Harbour Times (SA and in World War 1 served in the 5 March 1958 Friday 21 February 1958, page 4.). Australian Air Force, or A.F.C., after being SCIENTISTS RIDICULE SOVIET second-in-command of Stefansson’s ANTARCTIC SLANDERS 4 December 1958 Canadian Arctic expedition in 1913. He ADELAIDE: SCHOLARSHIP TO HONOUR took part in the British Imperial Antarctic World renowned Polar explorers, WILKINS expedition of 1920 and Ernest Shackleton’s Professor Sir Douglas Mawson and Sir WASHINGTON, Wednesday (A.A.P. last expedition in 1921 and in 1926 led the Hubert Wilkins during a recent discussion Reuter). — Detroit Arctic expedition. Altogether he held at the home of Sir Douglas Mawson, A scholarship fund, w h o s e sponsors spent five summers and parts of 26 winters showed how foolish is the suggestion that include veteran Arctic aviator Bernt in the Arctic. Russia has political or military designs in Balchen and Mrs. Lincoln Ellsworth, In the First World War he was wounded the Antarctic. widow of the famous, explorer, has been set nine times, awarded the Military Cross and Both scientists ridiculed a report that up in honour of Australian-born Polar bar and twice mentioned in despatches. Sir Russia might be sending political exiles to explorer Sir Hubert Wilkins, who died on John Monash, the Australian Commander- her Antarctic bases on Australian-claimed Sunday. in-Chief, said: “I do not know of a braver territory. They showed that a great bond of Canberra Times (ACT), Thursday 4 man.” peace and friendship exists between Polar December 1958, page 1. One of many notable events in the life of scientists. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 this dynamic man was his attempt to travel Antarctic weather research has become so 03061794 to the North Pole under ice in 1931 in a important that weather stations there should submarine (the Nautilus) he had acquired be permanently manned. Russian scientists 6 December 1958 from the United States Navy for 4/-. who recently reached the “Pole of WILKINS’ ASHES FOR ABBEY However, he had to turn back after covering Inaccessibility” were likely to encounter the FRAMINHAM (Massachusetts), Friday 2,000 miles, mostly under ice. Despite lowest temperatures man had ever endured, (A.A.P.-Reuter). — mechanical faults in the submarine, it was they said. The ashes of the world-famed Australian the illness of one of his crew that decided Tribune (Sydney, NSW), Wednesday 5 explorer, Sir Hubert Wilkins, will be him to abandon the perilous voyage. March 1958, page 5. placed; in Westminster Abbey, after Two great-nephews of Sir Hubert are https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 cremation in the U.S. sons of Mr. A. A. Appleby, of Victor 36323239 Sir Hubert, aged 70, was found dead in Harbour. They are Robert, who is studying his hotel room on Monday. medicine overseas, and Cyril, who is a scientist with the Commonwealth Scientific 21

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day and Industrial Research Organisation at After the war the article relates, he twice met by Sir Hudson Fysh, who also greeted Canberra. There are also two grand-nieces. took part in Antarctic expeditions, and the victorious airmen of the 1919 epic. Victor Harbour Times (SA), Friday 12 spent two and a half years leading the He was completely calm at the prospect December 1958, page 1. Australia and Islands Expedition to collect of demanding a schedule. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 specimens of rare animals and birds. Later his daughter Beryl Bowman, down 86738482 After 1929, when he married American from country to spend a few days with her actress Suzanne Bennett, Wilkins divided parents, told me: “He is actually very his spare time between New York and a excited He has been very sick, but has kept 1959 country place in Pennsylvania, but his polar repeating determinedly, “I must stay alive exploration left him little opportunity for for this. I must go on that trip.’ ” 30 March 1959 leisure. When the trip was mentioned some two News in Brief In what Admiral Richard Byrd called “the years ago, three members of the original Wilkins’ Ashes At North Pole greatest airplane flight ever made in the 16 were alive. Since then Wally Shiers and NEW YORK, Sunday (A.A.P.-Reuter). North.” Wilkins and fellow flier Carl Ben Ray Parer have died, leaving Reggie The ashes of the late Sir Hubert Wilkins Eielson crossed the Arctic Ocean — an Williams, the sole representative. were scattered at the North Pole today. epochal achievement which in typical Today Reg Williams lives quietly. His The New York Times said in an editorial Wilkins fashion, was undertaken without manner is gentle, his humour still alert, but today, “We may say of him as Stevenson fanfare and without a line of newspaper controlled. His rather whimsical face is said of his own prospective burial place publicity. fuller than that of the young flier, the pale above Apia — ‘Here he lies where he This simple, dedicated man died the way blue eyes are paler. Yet there is still a lot of longed to be.’ ” he had lived — working. “After the that daredevil spirit. Canberra Times (ACT), Monday 30 March funeral,” the author concludes, “I thought He traces his interest in flying back to 1959, page 3. how appropriate were these lines of 1913, when as a teenager he and some Swinburne’s: He hath given himself and mates took their full-size glider to a hilltop https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 hath not sold to God for Heaven or man for at Menangle, near Picton. 28811754 gold.” “Just a bit of a shove from the top of the

Biz (Fairfield, NSW), Wednesday 9 hill, all the kids running furiously, pulling September 1959, page 17. the ropes, and the glider would go across https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 the top of the gully magnificently,” he 89927535 recalled. When the School of Aviation was established at Richmond, N.S.W., Reg 1969 Williams was one of the first to enlist as a cadet. He got his pilot’s certificate after 17 December 1969 seven hours’ flying, going solo at 3¾ hours, IN MEMORY OF EPIC FLIGHT 50 showing an aptitude that resulted in his YEARS AGO being immediately appointed an instructor. Only man still alive who started in the 1919 He continued as an instructor at London-to-Sydney air race is retracing part Richmond until 1917, when as a member of of route from Singapore to Darwin being the Australian Flying Corps he was posted held as part the Captain Cook Bi-Centenary to England and spent the remaining war celebrations. years ferrying new aircraft from England to David Reginald Williams, content with France. At the end of World War I the An advertisement from the (Biz (Fairfield, NSW), quiet today at his gracious old home in the Wednesday 9 September 1959, page 17.). outlying Sydney suburb of Winston Hills, is Commonwealth Government offered a prize the last of a band of the century’s most of £10,000 ($20,000) for the first Australian 9 September 1959 reckless adventurers. to fly a British aircraft from England to AUSTRALIAN EXPLORER OF THE At 73, weakened by severe illness, he Australia in 30 days. POLES talked of his part in the London to Sydney The race aroused world-wide interest. On March 17 last, in the ghostly dusk of Air Race of 1919; of the 16 men who set Aviation was still in its infancy and the race the northern polar winter, a memorable out on the marathon event; of their was to be a gruelling test of stamina and event took place. In solemn ceremony friendship, their team efforts. ability. aboard the U.S. submarine “Skate,” the He talked also of the present and his There were no cloud flying instruments, ashes of the late Sir Hubert Wilkins joined ambitious and courageous plans to take part no radio communication between air and the legion of lost explorers, in fulfilment of in a re-enactment flight from Singapore to ground. There were open cockpits and no his lifetime wish. Darwin being held as part the Captain Cook pressurisation — and aircraft had a The August Reader’s Digest article, “My Bi-Centenary celebrations. comparatively short range. Most Unforgettable Character,” by It was the first long-distance air race and Vilhjalmur Stefansson himself a famous By Jacqueline Smith 11,000 miles in 30 days was an alarming explorer), describes the life of this modest I saw him before he left for the flight, prospect, making sponsors difficult to Australian, who was the first man to make leaving Adelaide on a DC3, calling at recruit. Many fliers wanted to enter, but an exploratory flight in the Antarctic, the Timor, Bali, Djakarta, en-route to only 16 — six crews in all — managed to first to demonstrate that aircraft could land Singapore to pick up a special airmail get machines. on pack ice, the first to fly over the Arctic consignment. Reg was a member of a four - man team, Ocean in an aeroplane (1928). The flight has been organised by the which included as navigator Captain Born in South Australia in 1888, George Australian Air Mail Society. Pilots are George Hubert (later Sir Hubert) Wilkins, Hubert Wilkins early developed a taste for Captain Noble (“Nobby”) Buckley and the Arctic explorer, who was awarded the travel which led him into photography as a Captain D. A. Gillespie, both well-known Patron’s Medal by the Royal Geographical means of seeing the world, though he retired commercial pilots, Hostess is Mrs. Society in 1928 for work in the Polar trained as an engineer at the Adelaide Jessie Buckley, wife of Captain Buckley. Regions. The other members were Reg School of Mines. The 11 day trip culminate on December Williams’ co-pilot, Val Rendle, and During World War 1 he participated, as a 10, when Mr. Williams and his fellow mechanic, Garnsey Potts. captain in charge of photography, in every travellers land at Darwin “if possible, at the On November 21, 1919, they left battle fought by Diggers on the western precise hour Ross and Keith Smith arrived Hounslow, England, in a Blackburn front. as winners of the 1919 air race” — to be Kangaroo — a twin-engined plane with a 75ft. wingspan, originally designed as a 22

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day bomber. The crew was in high spirits, the Williams said. “Ross and Keith Smith had 1975 day was sunny, the take-off good. The already arrived in Darwin and, as far as the plane circled the airfield three times before manufacturers were concerned, the race was heading for France. over.” 19 March 1975 “Wilkins and Rendle decided to return to MARRIAGE RETAINED ITS England, Potts stayed in Crete to safe-guard ROMANCE the plane, and I set out for home.” Sir Hubert Wilkins a few years before his The young Reg Williams got as far as death in 1958. Alexandria, in Egypt, and found it virtually “Suzanne Bennett, who last Friday impossible to get on an Australia-bound announced her engagement to Captain ship. “I spent days waiting for English George (Sir Hubert) Wilkins, sang two Ships to come into port, then rowing out to songs to her fiancé over radio WHN last them to beg for a passage. Eventually, I evening. Miss Bennett, an actress, sang ‘For landed a job on a collier and worked my a Boy Like You’ and ‘Twilight.’ The way to Fremantle.” Temporarily Reg recipient of the attention is now aboard the Williams abandoned aviation. Southern Cross bound for the Antarctic.” Seven days after his return home, he and So reads the yellowed cutting from the his brother Percy, who also served in the “New York Times” of September 24, 1928. Frying Corps, formed a motorcycle Five months before, the same newspaper business, which in time grew into one of the had headlined the Australian-born city’s largest businesses. explorer’s story of his feat: Unable to stay away from the air too long, Reg left the managing of the company “WILKINS FLIES FROM ALASKA TO to Percy and in 1920 started flying again, SPITSBERGEN IN 20 AND ONE HALF teaching at Richmond, taking passengers HOURS COVERS POLAR SEAS IN

In front of an old flying picture, Mr. David Reginald flying to towns throughout New South TINY PLANE AND FINDS NO LAND — Williams, holding a model of the Blackburn Kangaroo, the Wales. ISOLATED FIVE DAYS ON aircraft he piloted in the 1919 London-Sydney air race, It During World War II he was posted with UNINHABITED ISLAND — CALLED was forced to drop out of the race in Crete. THE GREATEST FEAT OF ALL the RAAF as C.O. at Tamworth, returning AVIATION.” The Blackburn Kangaroo, a gallant and to civilian life and the motorcycle business bewilderingly vulnerable machine beside until his retirement ten years ago. A civic reception was given for him on Today’s mechanical giants, was so named His life has been full. It still is. He is his return to New York. Present was because earlier models had a machine-gun surrounded by adoring members of the Suzanne Bennett, formerly of Melbourne. housing rather like a pouch. family — his wife, Mabel, his three Then a Broadway actress of considerable Mail was aboard for people in Australia, children, and ten grandchildren. The only acclaim. including the Governor-General. thing that seems to baffle him is aircraft of The conqueror of the Arctic was in turn There were, of course, many difficulties. “It today. conquered. was bitterly cold all the time,” Reg “The developments,” he said, “have got It was an era when engagements could Williams said. “On the first day out from beyond me and my imagination. I cannot last a year, when a beautiful woman could England, we flew for about four hours in a fathom it. But it isn’t really flying more like wait six months for her shining knight to snowstorm with no means of navigating, taking a bus to the shopping centre.” survive yet another feat of derring-do and just a compass. With only 24 hours before leaving on the return. “Manufacturers in England had given us first leg of the re-enactment flight, he The following spring, when, having all the appropriate clothing and we rugged admitted it would be a solitary journey, thawed out and with the Antarctic feat in up in flying-suits made from oilskins, lonely as the last man of a group of 16 his vest pocket. Sir Hubert returned several pairs of long socks, coats, and brave young men. Suzanne was waiting at the wharf, in helmets in an attempt to keep out the cold.” Nostalgic, too, as he recalled the flapper gear. “We had no way of conversing except by challenge and the companionship of those They were married, taking their sending notes to each other on a small days 50 years ago. honeymoon trip in the airship Graf pulley-and-wire system we had erected on As I left, Reg Williams said, “Don’t Zeppelin, and lived happily in New York the side of the plane. Some quite flippant make me out to be anything special — just for the rest of their days. notes were sent along that wire!” an ordinary run of the mill man. Write Sir Hubert died in 1958 at age 70. Lady The Kangaroo ran into storms, which about the other chaps, they’re the Wilkins, blind and in a nursing home, died delayed its departure from France for magnificent men. last December, aged 73. several days. In fact, it did not get a decent My only claim to fame is that I outlived After their marriage Sir Hubert continued day’s weather until the Italy to Crete flight, them all.” his Polar expeditions, making ten in all. when it showed what it could do. Australian Women’s Weekly (1933 - 1982), In 1931 as skipper of a World War I After an incident at Istres, in the South of Wednesday 17 December 1969, page 13. submarine that he had bought as scrap for France, when a saboteur engineered a short https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4 $1 and renamed the Nautilus, he made the circuit of a magneto, one of the crew slept 6445811 first submarine voyage under Arctic ice. in the luggage compartment during each The feat would not be consultant to the US stopover. Defence Department. The aircraft was hindered by heavy fog The Wilkins’s became the most over the snow-capped Apennines, bogged celebrated Australians in New York and in black mud at an airport in Bulgaria, and leaders of the Australian colony. Lady dug out by Bulgarian prisoners, and bogged Wilkins turned from acting to singing (she again as it tried to take-off three days later. sang in supper clubs), then oil painting. Then the worst happened. On the way to

Egypt, one engine failed and an emergency Absent husband landing had to be made in Crete. One day she would be dedicating a new The plane dropped into a 4ft. ditch, wine cave, on another she was publicly causing all four tyres to blow, and finished undertaking a grapefruit juice diet to lose nose down, tail up, just short of a heavy weight, on another she asked the President stone wall around a mental hospital. to launch a search for her husband, missing “We tried to get a replacement engine A cartoon from the (Australian Women’s Weekly (1933 - from England, but to no avail," Mr. 1982), Wednesday 19 March 1975.). 23

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day at sea. (Franklin D. Roosevelt did — (Below) Photos from the OSU Polar Archives from the Hubert turned up surprised, in Norway.) period of 1950-1960. While Sir Hubert was away in 1935 on another of his Polar expeditions. Suzanne adopted a six-year old girl, whom she re- christened Suzanne. She told her husband about it on shortwave radio. Hubert had been away for all but three months of the first seven years of the marriage. A journalist asked how it was to be married to an absent husband. “It gives my marriage a lovely aura of romance.” She was told. Suzanne considered New York her home long before she met the famous explorer. Lady Wilkins, the actress Suzanne Bennett, as a young woman. Born in Victoria, she studied at Melbourne University and went to the US in the early 1920s. As a Broadway chorus girl. Edward Prince of Wales took a fancy lo her and they gaily danced in public for at least one evening. Later, she reported that Trotter (his pseudonym) had sent her a telegram inviting her to make the Atlantic Crossing with him aboard the S.S. Olympic. She didn’t go. “Publicity spoiled it all,” she told the Press. Suzanne gave up her singing career in 1949. following a serious operation that sapped her strength and lowered her voice in register. She took to painting, and did portraits of celebrities. They went regularly on exhibition in fashionable Fifth Avenue stores. The Wilkins’s spent much time at their 250-acre estate in Pennsylvania, but when Sir Hubert’s health began to fail in the 1950s, they stayed close to their New York home. I remember visiting the aging couple a few months before his death in their dark, memento-packed Manhattan apartment. I asked Lady Wilkins if she was still inclined to serenade her husband. She promptly broke into a really low-down “Falling In Love With Love.” It was the best Dietrich bit I’d heard, before or since. — ROBERT FELDMAN Australian Women’s Weekly (1933 - 1982), Wednesday 19 March 1975. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4 8074100

Lady Wilkins showing her paintings. *OSU Polar Archives [wilkins35_25_15].

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The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

Lady Suzanne Wilkins Memorial Service, 5-4-1975. *OSU Polar Archives [wilkins35_23_.]. It was near where the ashes of Sir Hubert Wilkins were placed after his death in 1958.

The submarine had broken through the ice for Sir Hubert The US submarine crew unfirl the American flag for the The US submarine crew during the Sir Hubert Wilnins Wilnins Memorial Service. *OSU Polar Archives Sir Hubert Wilnins Memorial Service. *OSU Polar Memorial Service. *OSU Polar Archives [wilkins35_5_4]. [wilkins35_23_1]. Archives [wilkins35_5_2].

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